Modern Electric Practice

Abstract

A PUBLICATION of so ambitious a character as that which now lies before us courts severe criticism. Six handsomely bound volumes, which would adorn any bookshelf, beautifully printed on excellent paper, and copiously illustrated with still more excellent illustrations, should be, like Cæsar's wife, above suspicion. The indolent reviewer may well feel aghast when confronted with “a comprehensive treatise” which “no single writer could hope to issue,” and which has consequently been compiled by “the cooperation of contributors, each of whom is an expert in his own department of study and practice”; and the editor may well comfort himself against the possibility of adverse criticism by the reflection that what no one man can write no one man can review—a comforting reflection and a true one; but therein lies the paramount necessity for being above suspicion; for, unable to criticise all, the reviewer must perforce base his judgment on selections, and if, perchance, those selections are unfavourable, good work runs the danger of being condemned merely on the strength of its association with bad, and the “experts” as a body stand or fall according as some amongst them have or have not proved worthy of their trust.

Modern Electric Practice.

Edited by Prof. Magnus Maclean. New edition. In six volumes. Vol. i., pp. xii+302. Vol. ii., pp. vii+351. Vol. iii., pp. viii+340. Vol. iv., pp. vii+314. Vol. v., pp. vi+293. Vol. vi., pp. vii+362. (London: The Gresham Publishing Co., 1909.) Price, the six volumes, 54s.