A sketch of the life of Stanislaus Poniatowski throughout which are vividly pictured the influences that caused the downfall of Poland; among them, class prejudice, religious controversy, useless Diets, and great waste and extravagance. * * * * * "We heartily commend Mr. Bain's book, which is the most sympathetic and authentic on Poland since that published some years ago by George Brandes." --The Athenaeum "Mr. Nisbet Bain has written for us this mournful chapter in the history of a decadent nation, with a brilliancy and point not common excepting in the writings of French historians. The tale is as exciting as a romance, and reflects much of that realistic description of manners, good and bad, which we find in the works of Balzac." --Literary Review