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A Few Press Opinions on
A Little Wizard
By STANLEY J. WEYMAN
16mo, Cloth, 50 Cents
New York Times
"Mr. Weyman now builds his romance on English soil. The time is the beginning of the Puritan uprising, before the firm establishment of the Commonwealth, and the personages are Roundheads and Cavaliers. That is to say, the small boy and his fugitive brother, who are the most sympathetic characters in the story, represent the Royalist class, and they are set among crack-brained fanatics, sniveling hypocrites, and sturdy, well-meaning dissenters. There is a strong and convincing sketch of Cromwell before he had reached the zenith of his power, which is quite in Mr. Weyman's best vein.
"The little story, which seems to have been intended as a boys' book, is well devised and the interest is maintained to an abrupt and startling denouement. There are no battles, but there is an admirable description of a march of Cromwell's troops across the wet moors, and Mr. Weyman's strong feeling for landscape effects, which so greatly helps the interest of all his romances, pervades this little story."
Christian Advocate
"A new historical tale by Stanley J. Weyman is set in the time of Cromwell, just after the battles of Marston Moor and Naseby, and before the surrender by the Scots' army of Charles I. It is called 'A Little Wizard,' and recites incidents in the careers of two youthful sons of a Cavalier gentleman who has sacrificed his life to the Royalist cause, and one of whom—the Little Wizard—figures pathetically in the story, under the care of a faithless family servitor who has sinister connections with the Puritan Roundheads. The story has much of the literary and historic charm which marks all of Mr. Weyman's works, and it will find many interested readers. It is illustrated, and has a portrait of the author."
Brooklyn Eagle
.... "'A little Wizard,' in a small volume, which will be found just big enough for an evening's reading. The author has come back to England in this narrative, which is of the time of Cromwell. It is a fragment only, but it is like a remnant of some rich piece of tapestry on which is found embroidered the story of some brave deed of an older time, and so rich is it, so full of art, so vigorous with life, that the finder mourns that the whole history is not before him.... It is to be hoped that he will work this vein somewhat further. His picture of Cromwell in the 'Little Wizard' is very lifelike. One cannot help wishing that he would attempt the same drawing on a larger canvas. It is time we had once more a story of romance and adventure with English ground as its foothold. It would be a blessed relief from some of the pictures of passion, pure and impure—chiefly the latter—which of late has given rise to the question as to whether or not English reserve and modesty has become a forgotten virtue in literature."
The Outlook
"The artist is often revealed as strongly in small things as in great. Mr. S. J. Weyman's 'The Little Wizard' is short and slight, but, within its chosen limits, is a thoroughly artistic bit of fiction. Its hero is a little Royalist lad of the times of Charles I., who falls among rustic fanatics and, by an odd train of events, becomes suspected of being endowed with witch powers and of bringing a storm to hinder the march of Cromwell's army. The brief glimpse of Cromwell himself is admirably given. The close is dramatically managed and effective."
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"In 'A little Wizard,' Stanley J. Weyman leaves his familiar French ground and locates his story in England during the war between the Royalists and Roundheads, the tale reciting incidents in the careers of two sons of a Cavalier gentleman who had fallen in the Royalist cause. It is an interesting novelette that does not take long in the reading and has no pages to be skipped on account of dullness."
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A Few Press Opinions on
A New Note
World
"The latest book of which people are talking; this new book is very much up to date."
Daily Telegraph
"The book is really a remarkable one, of high literary quality, replete with strong human interest and displaying masterly ability. Widespread popularity awaits 'A New Note.' Ere long everybody who is anybody will read it."
St. James's Gazette
"Eminently readable, and we should say will be read. The writing is brisk and clever, and the character-drawing very good."
Manchester Guardian
"Its merits are far above the average, the characters are admirably drawn, they are living people and stand out in solid relief amid the shadowy unsubstantial hosts that people the pages of most modern fiction. The authoress has knowledge of the human heart. There is much cleverness and power in the book."
Saturday Review
"A promising story; the verdict on this must be decidedly favorable."
Guardian
"It is of an uncommon power and breadth, rare and vivacious humor. Its incidents and _mise-en-scene_ are decidedly fresh, and the conversations brisk and to the point."
St. Paul's
"Shows much knowledge of character and skill in portraiture. There is scarcely a character that we might not single out for praise; the dialogue, too, is excellent—smart without being flippant, and witty without being labored."
Athenæum
"This cleverly written novel.... The book is written with considerable alertness of style, and the sketches of the old maiden aunt and half a dozen other minor characters are touched off with no little skill and humor."
Post
"Its crisply rounded phrases, bright dialogues, and general knowledge of the world, might be envied by many a practised writer. The book is a novelty in the best sense of the term, vivacious and refined."
Academy
"The note in the book is struck well, and with a purpose—delicate insight into shades of feeling and certain hold of human nature. The characters the author has made her own she has made a distinct success."
Post
"Combines adequate knowledge of the world with a high degree of literary skill. The character of the heroine is admirably conceived and managed. The situations are powerful without effort, and the dialogue is often as brilliant as the reflections are shrewd. This is one of the novels of the season."
Times
"It introduces to the novel reading public a writer of no mean powers. A story of human interest, thoroughly bright and wholesome. The heroine is a new conception. Every reader of the book will readily recognise the genuine gifts of the author."
Speaker
"There is undoubted ability in 'A New Note.' The author is clever and can write well; she can also draw accurate sketches of the better side of social life."
Globe
"The author displays a feeling for character, skill in dealing with the crises and events, and a pleasant style."
"A clever bit of literary work, well conceived and admirably developed. The heroine is that extraordinary latter-day creation, 'a new woman.'"
A Few Press Opinions on
The Professor's Experiment
By MRS. HUNGERFORD (The Duchess)
12mo, Cloth, 50 Cents
The Watchman
"The 'experiment,' which gives name to the story, is a weird one and picturesquely presented, reminding one faintly of the old French story of the 'Broken Ear.' It turns the red light briskly on the hero and heroine, who, having been thus vividly introduced to us and to each other, proceed to the business of the occasion by falling in love with each other and entangling themselves in divers nets of embarrassing circumstances, settling away from the storm to a peaceful horizon of marriage at last. It has become necessary, in these days, to indicate the exceptional and welcome fact that this is a pure story; painting cheery pictures of normal domestic life, and opening no side doors to encourage the stealthy adventures of a prurient fancy. It is a novel, strictly speaking, involving neither sermon nor stump speech. It offers entertainment only, but it gives what it offers; resting the tired brain and leaving no poison in the blood."
Evening Bulletin
It is a capital story of an Irish savant, who, like the magicians of mediæval days, passed his years in concocting a draught to put his subjects to sleep. Fortunately a beautiful girl of eighteen is found insensible on the professor's doorstep. She becomes his patient, enters upon a long sleep, and, in the 'large awakening,' learns that she is heiress to an immense fortune and the professor's grand-daughter."
Indianapolis Journal
"'The Professor's Experiment' is the title of a new book by Mrs. Hungerford (The Duchess). It is of a somewhat more elaborate and ambitious character than this writer's recent stories, and shows a return to her earlier manner. The heroine is the impulsive, warm-hearted young Irish girl with whom all Mrs. Hungerford's readers are well acquainted, but of whom, in her various phases and reappearances they do not tire."