Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/360

352 volume by Professor Comparetti. That volume supplied the best textual study, and we may say that Mr. Clouston's volume may be considered almost as its companion, supplying, as it does, the best comparative study. With these two volumes before him the student has everything at hand for his use. Mr. Clouston is well known as an authority on Eastern literature, and his learned introduction to this book is of the greatest interest. The "Book of Sindibad" is first given, then follows "the Seven Vazirs" with an appendix of stories, "the Seven Wise Masters," and "Dolopathos." These collections, together with notes and index, make a volume worthy of the attention of all folk-lorists. Mr. Clouston supplies in his notes illustrations of most of the curious customs referred to in the texts of the stories, and he gives very ample reference to parallel stories to be found elsewhere, besides which there is valuable bibliographical information of the several editions of the works, and minute information as to where the rarest of these editions are to be found. It certainly is a remarkable fact in the history of fiction that this collection of stories should have had such a long and wide-spread popularity, descending ultimately in England into the penny chap-books which to our poorer classes answer for literature; and it presents us with a most remarkable instance of the literary migration of stories, a subject upon which Mr. Clouston has perhaps expended more study than any other student of folk-lore. Before concluding we cannot help adding one word of thanks for the handsome manner in which Mr. Clouston has got up his volume, and we trust that members of the Society will aid Mr. Clouston's labours by their support.

Herr Otto Harrassowitz, of Leipzig, has just issued a catalogue of books on the History of Civilization, containing a number of valuable works on the Culture, Folk-lore, Customs, and Traditions of Greece and Rome, the Hindus and other Oriental Peoples, with books on Teutonic, Scandinavian, and Medieval Mythology and Folk-lore. Copies of the catalogue may be obtained on application from Messrs. Farrar and Fenton, 8, John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.