Page:The Story of the House of Cassell (book).djvu/244

 numerous halting-places. It seemed as if he were obsessed by the work and could not rest until it was finished. He was most amenable to suggestions, and often adopted them when he would rather have followed his own bent. He was ever anxious to defer to the wishes of Queen Victoria. Manson remembered his answering some query in these terms: "I don't object to Henry VIII being called the Defender of the Faith, but I am sure the Queen would also not object to his being called the murderer of his wives!" His book has great literary charm, and faithfully reflects the simple and unassuming character of its author.

A brief paragraph may be added about War Books. Cassell's took more than a full share in ministering to the demand of the public for books relating to Armageddon. Just before the war broke out they had published a translation of von Bülow's "Imperial Germany," of which a new edition was issued in 1916, with a Foreword by J. W. Headlam that brought out the significance of the work in relation to the origins of the war. They also issued in 1918 a translation of Dr. Muehlon's Diary, in 1919 a translation of Count Czernin's "In the World War," and in 1920 translations of von Hindenburg's "Out of My Life" and of Admiral Scheer's "Germany's High Sea Fleet in the World War." Among the notable books by British protagonists are Viscount Jellicoe's "The Grand Fleet" and "The Crisis of the Naval War," Sir Frederick Maurice's "The Last Four Months," and Sir Douglas Brownrigg's "Indiscretions of the Naval Censor." Works by observers include Major Corbett Smith's "Retreat from Mons," "The Marne and After," etc., and, last but not least, "Sea Fights of the Great War," and "More Sea Fights of the Great War," depicted by the pencil of W. L. Wyllie, R.A., and described by M. F. Wren. Among books dealing with the causes and significance of the war are Viscount Haldane's "Before the War," H. G. Wells's "War and the Future," and Major