[Book Reviews]

Abstract

THE publishers of the Forum Series are gradually building up a library of cheap books of which they may well be proud. Prof. Julian Huxley and Sir Arthur Keith are among the earlier contributors, and now comes Dr. Edward Greenly with a fascinating little volume on geology. In so far as it is pos sible profitably to discuss the make-up of the earth and its long history of changing landscape, climate, and life in 54 pages, Dr. Greenly has succeeded where most of his competitors have failed. His reputation as a brilliant but cautious geologist is so high that no one need doubt his authority to act as a guide to the beginner in a subject which is notoriously difficult to condense effectively. The book is beautifully written—obviously it was a pleasure to write it—and is everywhere clear and concise. It is imbued throughout with a mellow spirit of philosophy which will give pleasure to the professional geologist as well as to the general reader for whom it is intended. No better school introduction to geology could be wished for. So many small books of this kind are written by earnest amateurs who are generally ill-equipped for the difficult task of writing simplified geology, that it is a pleasure to find one by a master of his subject that can be cordially recommended.

The Earth: its Nature and History.

By Dr. Edward Greenly. (The Forum Series.) Pp. ix + 54. (London: Watts and Co., 1927.) 1s. net.