The times., 1901-04-07
Miscellaneous Books.

"Falaise the Town of the Conqueror,
by Anna Bowman Dodd, author of "Cathe-
dral Days" and I'm and Out of Three
Normandy Inns" is book about little
Normandy town whose best title to fame
lies in its association with William the
Conqueror. There are numerous illustra-
tions, and the style is easy and Informal,
as in the authors previous works. Some
of her readers will doubtless like this the
best Of all, for it is in many respects the
best.
The most interesting chapters are, of
course, those which deal with the history
of the great Norman who was born
there-son of Robert. Duke of Normandy.
variously called The Magnificent and
THE Devil" and tanners daughter, Ar
lette. II is a strange story Of strange, wild
times. and, perhaps. has never been bet
ter told. The description OF Robert and
his home Is a fair example OF the gener-
al style Of the book:
'~The narrow room. built into the for
tress walls, where Roberts cnevaliers
led Arlette. no longer Siows with the
many painted images in gold ana
enamel that must have dazzied the
girls eyes as greatly as did the lace
OF her lover.
The walls OF the famous little cham
ber are now OF rough plaster. BE
nedtD the low NaultGd CEILING iutft
are sttH left the narrow alcoNe large
enough for the primitive eleventh cen
tury bed, and the wide chimney mouth
where a whole forest, doubtless, OF
noble timber has furnished hght and
warmth for generations of men. The
splendor of appointments IN that small
closet in fortress wall was OF the
semi-barbaric order of luxury OF rude
age. Already, before he was come to
his ducal seat, both his soldiers and
his subject people had named Robert.
His liberality and his love of lavish
expenditure had won for him the title
of Magnificent" To his Northman's
spirit of adventure and his impetuous
ardor he united the Romans delight
in sumptuous surroundings. This
chamber that glowed with color; the
strange-faced archaic images lit into
splendor by flaming torches; the arras
hanging at alcove and door, thick with
shadowy figure shapes; the skins that
lay upon the couches and the CLEANS
of the pale Merovingian gold encirciing
the rough-cut jewels on mantle clasp
and necklace-thus, both in his person
and in his fortress home, Robert pre-
sented a semi-Oriental love of the
splendid.
Roberts career as lover, warrior
knight, and huntsman, and later as
duke and pilgrim, is the more easily
conceivable to the nineteenth century
mind when viewed from this gentle
mans bedchamber.
For gentleman. Robert Count
d Hiemes, and later Sixth Duke Of
Normandy, unquestionably was His
life proved his right to the title. This
is TO light praise for duke and
Norman of his time The trace of
Pirate in his Northman's blood was
almost lost. There was enough left
of the old Scandinavian love of adyen-
ture to make Robert as picturesque
figure as he was gallant and brave
In this Portrait of a Gentleman, there
are no effete Chesterieldian traits to
mar the noble Rembrandtish breadth
and glow. One feels ones self to be
in the presence of a man.
Altogether, the book is we'll worth buy
ing for the story of Robert and his son
William, If there were nothing else I'm IT,
But there is a great deal. (Boston: Little
Brown &c Co. $2.50)