IN the course of chemical research it frequently happens that an investigator finds himself entering a field relatively unknown to him, for the exploration of which the ordinary text-book is necessarily too ske. By while, on the other hand, the massive detail or Benstein's Handbook makes it difficult to carry out a rapid initial survey. At such times Biehter-Anschutz's “The Chemistry of Carbon Compounds” is invaluable, and we particularly welcome, therefore, the publication of Volume 3 of the latest edition in English. It had been the intention of the publishers that this new edition, although based on the twelfth German edition of 1935, should be revised and brought up to date by Dr. T. W. J. Taylor and Dr. Wilson Baker. Unfortunately, however, only the first portion, some 50 pages of the present text, had been completed when the outbreak of war prevented the continuation of the project. In order to complete the English version, it was then decided to publish the remainder in the form of a literal translation of the German edition. This has been prepared and edited by Dr. A. J. Mee and Mr. M. F. Darken. The bulk of the material is therefore the same as that contained in the German edition of 1935, and for material published during the past ten or twelve years the chemist must necessarily seek elsewhere. The Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds Victor von Richter. Prof. Richard Anschutz. Vol. 3: The Aromatic Compounds. Newly translated from the twelfth German edition by A. J. Mee. Pp. xviii + 794. (New York: Elsevier Publishing Co. Inc., 1946.) 15 dollars.