BOOK NOTICES. A HAND-BOOK OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. Intended for the use of High Schools, as well as a companion and guide for private students, and for general readers. By Francis H. Underwood. vol. 1. British authors. Boston: Lee and Shepard. Mr. Underwood is clerk of the Superior Criminal Court, is, and has been, for several years, an influential member of the Boston School Board, As a member of the Special Committee on High School Instruction, it fell to his lot, on revising the course of study of the Latin School, to prepare a course of reading in English literature. His literary tastes peculiarly fitted him for that work, and have led him since to prepare the volume before us to meet a want which others, as well as himself, have long felt. This volume relates entirely to British authors. It will soon be followed by another devoted to American literature. The historical introduction, occupying thirty pages, gives a good insight into the rise and progress of the English language, and is worthy of careful study. The notices of the various authors seem to have been written with great care. They are concise, yet appreciative and discriminating, and generally bring out clearly the characteristics of each author. Extracts are given from the most noted writers from Chaucer to those of the present time. Good judgment has been displayed, not only in the choice of authors, but in the selections from each. We commend the book to teachers, and to all interested in the subject. The publishers are deserving of much credit for having given the book so substantial and attractive a form. A DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH SYNONYMES, and Synonymous, or Parallel Expressions, designed as a practical guide to aptness and variety of Phraseology. By Richard Soule. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. This handsome book, handsome not only in appearance, but on the score that "handsome is that handsome does," is sure to find a place upon every study table. It has two merits. One is, it is very full and complete: the other, it is alphabetical. The word wanted is there, and can be found with the least trouble. Roget's Thesaurus has always been a good friend; but here is one just as good, and more ready to serve. PUBLIC AND PARLOR READINGS. Prose and Poetry for the use of Reading Clubs, and for Public and Social Entertainment. Humorous. Edited by Lewis B. Monroe. Boston: Lee & Shepard. One having but a casual acquaintance with Mr. Monroe would hardly think him the man to make a selection of this sort. But whoever has heard him read "Darius Green and bis Flying Machine," or other humorous pieces, knows that few have a better appreciation of wit and humor. He has brought together, here, material for many an evening's entertainment. A good hearty laugh clears the mind and lets in the sunshine on the heart. So we shall speed this book on its beneficent mission, and wish it a wide field to work in. DRAWING BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS AND BEGINNERS. Designed and drawn by M. H. Holmes, Teacher of Drawing and Painting, Chicago, Ill. New York: Harper & Brothers. The four books before us constitute the Common School Series. They are elementary, proceeding from lines and curves, to the drawing of plane and solid figures, and then to the drawing of objects. In the neatness and clearness of the designs, the quality of the paper, and in general appearance, they are, superior to any drawing-books we have seen. Eight other books will follow. giving lessons in flowers, fruit, the human form, animals, foliage, and landscape. A. C. Stockin is the New England agent for the Harpers' school-books. He may be found at A. Williams and Co.'s, 135 Washington street. HARPER AND BROTHERS send us also this month, through A. Williams & Co., vol. 1 of the Life and Times of Lord Brougham, written by himself Two volumes more will follow. Lord Brougham left his autobigraphy with instructions to his executor to have it published just as he had written it, excepting that any mistakes in dates or names might be corrected. This volume gives an account of his early life, his school days, travels, and entrance upon public affairs. It will be eagerly read. Other valuable books come from the same house. Smith's Smaller Scripture History, giving the history of the Old Testament, the connections between the Old and the New, and the history of the New till A. D. 70, will be a very useful book in Sunday School classes. Jacob Abbott is preparing a series of volumes under the title of Science for the Young. The first, Heat, has just been issued. It is in narrative form, and like all of Mr. Abbott's books, exceedingly interesting as well as instructive. One need not be very young to read it with profit. The Harpers have added to their stock of novels a fine edition of Miss Mulock's Head of the Family; A Life's Assize, by Mrs. J. H. Riddell; and Anteros, by the author of Guy Livingstone. LEE & SHEPARD send us Curiosities of the Law Reporter, by Franklin Fiske Heard. Many odd and curious decisions of judges, opinions of Congress, points of law, &c., amusing to the general reader, and especially so to the legal fraternity. Also, Versatilities, by R. H. Newell, better known as "Orpheus C. Kerr." This is a collection of poems, some of them in a serious vein, some in a burlesque style, and some, under the head of "Illiteraria," in the author's peculiar manner. It is a good volume to catch up at odd moments. DESK AND DEBIT; or the Catastrophes of a Clerk, is another volume of the Upward and Onward Series, by "Oliver Optic." It has been read by a great many young folks, as it has appeared from week to week in "Our Boys and Girls," and now will be welcomed by other readers. JUST PUBLISHED, A Concise History of the United States, By L. J. CAMPBELL. BASED ON SEAVY'S GOODRICH. This book contains 257 pages, with the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, &c., and is suitably illustrated with MAPS and Curs. No pains and labor have been spared to render the work especially desirable as a Class Book. The attention of Teachers and School officers is invited to the following particulars: I. Its simplicity of statement and judiciousness in the selection of facts. II. Its accuracy in the relation of events, pronunciation of proper names, &c. III. Its freedom from comparatively useless dates. BREWER & TILESTON, Publishers, 17 Milk Street, BOSTON. WALTON'S NORMAL SERIES. This series of Arithmetics consists of three books, viz: I. A Pictorial Primary Arithmetic. (Normal edition.) II. An Intellectual Arithmetic. (Normal edition.) III. The Illustrative Practical Arithmetic. The Illustrative Practical Arithmetic is entirely new. It is designed for Common Schools, Normal Schools, High Schools, and Academies, and will, it is believed, meet the wants of the large majority of the students of written arithmetic, in all grades of schools, more fully than any other arithmetic before the public. For those who desire to pursue the subject further, Walton's Written Arithmetic Presents a somewhat more extended course and a fuller practice. Favorable terms will be made for introduction. ADDRESS: BREWER & TILESTON, PUBLISHERS, 17 Milk Street, BOSTON More extensively in use than all others combined. STANDARD BOTANICAL SERIES, By Professor ASA GRAY, M. D., OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Published by IVISON, BLAKEMAN, TAYLOR & CO., New York. The publishers beg to call the attention of those about forming classes in Botany to the well-known works by Prof. GRAY. Now complete, the series presents the latest and most accurate principles and developments of the Science. No author has yet approached Prof. GRAY in the rare art of making purely scientific theories, and dry details popular and interesting. From his charming elementary work, "HOW PLANTS GROW," to his more elaborate "MANUAL," there is one simple, concise, and yet exhaustive method of teaching the various grades of the study. HOW PLANTS GROW. Containing a Popular Flora, or an Arrangement and This work is a simple, attractive, and beautifully illustrated BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, intended to teach them how to begin to read, with pleasure and profit, one large and easy chapter in the open book of Nature. HOW PLANTS GROW' is a remarkably successful effort of a truly learned man, to write a book actually adapted to young children."-Atlantic Monthly. SCHOOL AND FIELD BOOK OF BOTANY. An easy introduction to a knowledge of all the common Plants of the United States, both Wild and Cultivated. 8vo, cloth, 622 pages. Price $2.50. This is a new book, and is the most comprehensive and practical school botany published. It has been warnily recommended by all who have examined it. We have space for only a few extracts: "This is emphatically the student's hand-book of Botanical science and Practical Botany; as such I have no doubt it will take its place in the front rank of Model School-Books."- Pres't Chadbourne, LL. D., of University of Wisconsin, and late Prof. of Botany, Williams College, Mass. "The work embodies the latest discoveries in the science of vegetable physiology, and the character and reputation of the author make it a work of the highest authority."- Harper's Monthly. "The Glossary and Index render the volume accessible and useful even to persons not well versed in this delightful science."- Penn. School Journal. Prof. GRAY's Botanical works have received the highest recommendation from the foremost scholars and professors in this country and Europe, among whom may be mentioned Prof. Tuckerman, of Amherst College, Prof. Silliman, Yale College, Prof. Prentiss, Cornell University, Prof. Henry, Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Wm. Tully, late of Yale, Prof. Dana, Yale College, Prof. Schanck, Princeton College, Prof. Pearson, Union College, Prof. Guyot, Princeton College, the late Pres't Hitchcock of the Amherst College, Prof Agassiz, Prof. Torrey, Dr. Lindley, and Sir William Hooker, of London. The following flattering testimonial from one of the best authorities in this country was recently received: University of Virginia, Nov. 3d, 1870. "These books are of such singular excellence that they leave nothing to be desired. Their style is so simple, their statements so lucid, and their arrangement so judicious, that they may be placed in the hands of children; while they are so instinct with true science, and breathe so philosophic a spirit, that their perusal affords a delightful recreation to the mature and the cultivated. For the habits of close attention it begets, for the interest with which it invests the most monotonous, and the charm which it lends to the most attractive landscape, as well as for the stores of useful knowledge it imparts. Botany should be taught in every school, and these volumes should be the Text-Books." J. S. DAVIS, M. D., Prof. Anatomy, Materia Medica, and Botany. Sample copies of the "School and Field Book," and "How Plants Grow," for examination, by mail on receipt of HALF the appended price. Address, W. A. WILDE & CO., No. 1 CORNHILL, BOSTON. |