sensual Caliph going to the bad, as represented by his final introduction
to the Halls of Eblis. But the enjoyment given by the book reflects the
real enjoyment that the author had in writing it--enjoyment great enough
to cause it to be written at a heat, in one long sitting, without
flagging power. Young and lively, he delivered himself up to a free run
of fancy, revelled in the piled-up enormities of the Wicked Mother, who
had not brought up Vathek properly, and certainly wrote some parts of his
nightmare tale as merrily as if he were designing matter for a pantomime.

Whoever, in reading "Vathek," takes it altogether seriously, does not
read it as it was written. We must have an eye for the vein of
caricature that now and then comes to the surface, and invites a laugh
without disturbing the sense of Eastern extravagance bent seriously upon
the elaboration of a tale crowded with incident and action. Taken
altogether seriously, the book has faults of construction. But the
faults turn into beauties when we catch the twinkle in the writer's eye.

H. M.




THE HISTORY OF THE CALIPH VATHEK


Vathek, ninth Caliph of the race of the Abassides, was the son of
Motassem, and the grandson of Haroun Al Raschid. From an early accession
to the throne, and the talents he possessed to adorn it, his subjects
were induced to expect that his reign would be long and happy. His
figure was pleasing and majestic; but when he was angry one of his eyes