S.O.S. The Story of the Life-boat Service. ByCyrilJolly. (Cassell, 12s. 6d.) Mr. Jolly has already written the life of Coxswain Henry Blogg, of Cromer.

Here he tells the story of the life-boat service. His book is intended for children. But anyone might read it with pleasure. It is written with careful know- ledge and with infectious admiration and enthusiasm. It touches, briefly and clearly, on the history and organisation of the service, on the construction of its boats, and its many technical develop- ments, on its special difficulties in time of war, and its problems of finance. But the greater part is given to the men and women of the service, and the families who have served it generation after generation. There are biographies of five of its most celebrated coxswains, and full and graphic accounts of six great services, and four life-boat dis- asters. There are 26 illustrations of men and boats, wrecks and rescues, and an excellent page on the honorary workers, on "the spirit of high endeavour" which, as he says, is to be found not only in its coxswains and crews, but in the honorary secretaries of its stations and the collectors of its many branches.

Mr. Jolly has selected his material very well from the abundance of the Institu- tion's records and has put a great deal into his 156 pages. C.V..