#The Last Lion, and Other Tales#, by _Vicente Blasco Ibáñez_, with an Introduction by _Mariano Joaquin Lorente_ (The Four Seas Company). The present vogue of Señor Blasco Ibáñez is more sentimental than justified, but in "Luxury" he has written an admirable story, and the other five stories have a certain distinction of coloring. #The Bishop, and Other Stories#, and #The Chorus Girl, and Other Stories#, by _Anton Chekhov_; translated from the Russian by _Constance Garnett_ (The Macmillan Company). I have called attention to previous volumes in this edition of Chekhov from time to time. These two new additions to the series carry the English version of the complete tales two-thirds of the way toward completion. Chekhov is one of the three short story writers of the world indispensable to every fellow craftsman, and these nineteen stories are drawn for the most part from the later and more mature period of his work. #The Surprises of Life#, by _Georges Clémenceau_; translated by _Grace Hall_ (Doubleday, Page & Company). Although this volume shows a gift of crisp narrative and sharply etched portraiture, it is chiefly important as a revelation of M. Clémenceau's state of mind. Had it been called to the attention of Mr. Wilson before he went to Paris, the course of international diplomacy might have been rather different. These twenty-five stories and sketches one and all reveal a sneering scepticism about human nature and an utter denial of moral values. From a technical point of view, "The Adventure of My Curé" is a successful story. #Tales of My Native Town#, by _Gabriele D'Annunzio_; translated by _G. Mantellini_, with an Introduction by _Joseph Hergesheimer_ (Doubleday, Page & Company). This anthology drawn from various volumes of Signor D'Annunzio's stories gives the American a fair bird's-eye view of the various aspects of his work. These twelve portraits by the Turner of corruption have a severe logic of their own which may pass for being classical. As diploma pieces they are incomparable, but as renderings of life they carry no sense of conviction. Mr. Hergesheimer's introduction is a more or less unsuccessful special plea. While it is perfectly true that the author has achieved what he set out to do, these stories already seem old-fashioned, and as years go on will be read, if at all, for their landscapes only. #Military Servitude and Grandeur#, by _Alfred de Vigny_; translated by _Frances Wilson Huard_ (George H. Doran Company). It is curious that this volume should have waited so long for a translator. Alfred de Vigny was an early nineteenth century forerunner of Barbusse and Duhamel, and this record of the Napoleonic wars is curiously analogous to the books of these later men. I call attention to it here because it includes "Laurette," which is one of the great French short stories.