The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-19 00:00:00

ZITE.RATURE.

BENTLEY'S STAND NRD NOVELS.

The Semi-Attached Couple. By the Author of the
" Semi-Detached House,"

This is the last addition to this series, and it is a
very attractive volume for perusal. It does not
certainly possess the charm that renders the Semi-
Detached House" so irresistible, and has gained for
it such an extensive popularity ; but it is a very
pleasing story. In its smart sketches we see society
admirably delineated; in its animated dialogues we
,meet with amusing illustrations of character; and
in its descriptive scenes we feel that interest which
always belongs to the natural and life-like. The
author of this work has a very clear insight into
many of the most important phases of human
dispositions ; and here and there, as the reader
peruses these pages, he will find sothe individual
stand out prominently who is a most apt repre-
sentation of a certain class. Thus, in Lady Port-
more we meet with a finished sketch of a fine lady,
who is also most selfish and heartless. The manner
in which she conducted herself when on a visit at
the house of the bride was most offensive. It is very
satisfactory to find that this calculating woman at
last overreached herself, and made a grand mis-
take in supposing Lord Teviot's case hopeless.
Helen is a delightful heroine who gains upon the
attention as we study her, and no one who watches
her in her fitful path but will rejoice when the
clouds are dispersed and the prospect of her career
is as bright as it promised to be the day she left
her father's house as a fair young bride, the envy
and admiration of all her friends. Lord Teviot
may convey a warning to the large class of well-
meaning persons who render those connected with
them wretched in consequence of their jealousy
and violent temper. Most fortunately for thist mis-
guidedcouple they bad real trouble to make them
cast aside their imaginary griefs, and in the silent
hours of reflection that are the inevitable portion
of a long illness both to sufferers and watchers,
they had time to think on their foolish conduct.
Mrs. Douglas is a very amusing character, her
shrewd remarks and sharp retorts foam one of
the most entertaining features of the dialogue.
and sne is a positive relief when she throws her
forces of repartee against Lady Portmore. This
artful woman met her match in the straightfor-
ward statements of her opponent, and the com-
pany in general coincided with the honest
bluntness of Mrs. Douglas, rather than the
inconsistent attestations of Lady Portmore.
Altogther the reader will find some very
entertaining sketches in these pages, and thus
the appearance of this boolf among the series
of standard novels connot but be attractive and
prove popular. It forms the ninth volume in the
list which comprises "The Semi-detached House,"
by the same author ; " The Ladies of Bever Hol-
low," and " Village Belles," by the author of " Mary
Powell ;" " Rita," an autobiography, which is a
very clever tale ; "Easton," by the Hon. Lena
Eden, that attracted attention at its appearance ;
" The Season Ticket," that is of well-known merit
in its peculiar style; Anthony Trollope's " Three
Clerks" and " Quits," both of which have been
extensively circulated reading communities,

The Cook's Guide, and Housekeeper's and But-
ler's Assistant. By Charles Elme Francatelli,
Author of the " Mcdern Cook." Bentley.
This is a very useful work that affords a con-
sidtrable amount of information, and is written by
a competent authority, the author having been a
pupil of the celebrated Careme, seven years chef de
cuisine to the Reform Club, and late Maitre
d'ilotel and chief cook to her Majesty. This volume
contains upwards of forty illustrations of the
various dishes, &c., mentioned in the course of
the instructions. The work furnishs accounts of
English and foreign cookery, instructions for
pickling and preserving The art of confectionary
ice-making, and the arrangements of deserts. Also
a very desirable item is met with in directions for
the preparation of proper diets for invalids. A
variety of wine cups and epicurean salads, Ameri-
can drinks and summer beverages. It will thus be
seen that there is ample store of knowledge im-
parted to those desirous of learning, and in the
range of domestic study no branch is more useful
than that of cookery. The most ignorant and
inexperienced may thus inform themselves in these
pages of the things they are deficient in, and by
practice possess themselves of the desirable skill.
There have been many works on cookery pub-
lished of late years, but this seems to be a supe-
rior sort, and to impart information on a more
extended scale than is often met with in volumes
of this description. This elegant book is there-
fore likely to be a favourite with many readers,
as they are not likely to be disappointed at the
intelligence they glean from its elaborate pages,
which present a storehouse and treasury of all the
good things that the imagination of the most in-
veterate epicure can devise, or the most dainty of
mortals can dream of.