It is not easy to write a critical biography of Verlaine without either patronage or pomposity. Mr. Nicolson succeeds because he treats his subject whimsically but with respect. He does not seek to excuse or to minimise the failings of Verlaine as a man, nor does he make extravagant claims of poetical genius, but he tells with genial sympathy a rather pitiful life story, and by skilful quotation enables the reader to form his own judgment of Verlaine's work. Contents:--Youth; Marriage; Arthur Rimbaud; "Sagesse"; Middle Age; The Last Phase; Verlaine's Literary Position. VERLAINE. By WILFRED THORLEY. (Modern Biographies Series. See p. 9.) PAUL BOURGET. By ERNEST DIMNET. (Modern Biographies Series. See p. 9.) VICTOR HUGO. By MARY DUCLAUX. (Makers of XIX. Century Series. See p. 4.) CARDUCCI. By ORLO WILLIAMS. (Modern Biographies Series. See p. 9.) DANTE ALIGHIERI: A Biographical Study. By CHARLES A. DINSMORE. Large Crown 8vo. 15s. net. "Dante's latest biographer has made out a very just summary of modern opinion and research."--_New Statesman._ THE LIFE OF TOLSTOY. By AYLMER MAUDE. Vol. I. First Fifty Years to 1870. Vol. II. Later Years. Each vol. illustrated. Price per vol. 12s. 6d. net. TOLSTOY. By EDWARD GARNETT. (Modern Biographies Series. See p. 9.) JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. His Life, Art, and Work. Translated from the German of JOHANN NIKLAUS FORKEL. With Notes and Appendices by CHARLES SANFORD TERRY, LITT.D. Illustrated. Demy 8vo. 21s. net. "Very much more than a re-translation of an old work which was previously translated very imperfectly into English a hundred years ago.... Though it bears the name of Forkel on the cover, it contains material for a history of Bach criticism from the beginning of the 19th century until the present day, and incidentally suggests directions which future research may follow."--_Times Literary Supplement._ TSCHUDI, THE HARPSICHORD MAKER. By WILLIAM DALE, F.S.A. Demy 8vo. Illustrations. 7s. 6d. net. MICHEL-ANGELO: A Record of his Life as told in his own Letters and Papers. By R. W. CARDEN, R.W., A.R.I.B.A. Illustrations. Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net. LIFE AND LETTERS OF LAFCADIO HEARN. By ELIZABETH BISLAND. Illust. Demy 8vo. 2 vols. £3: 3s. net. LAFCADIO HEARN. By EDWARD THOMAS. (Modern Biographies Series. See p. 9.) THE JAPANESE LETTERS OF LAFCADIO HEARN. By ELIZABETH BISLAND. Illust. Demy 8vo. 31s. 6d. net. LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS. Author of "Uncle Remus." By JULIA COLLIER HARRIS. Demy 8vo. Illustrated. 18s. net.