Anti-Jacobin.
"If we are right in supposing that 'The Kidnapped Squatter and other Australian Tales,' by Andrew Robertson, are first attempts at writing fiction, the author may be commended on making a far more successful commencement than many a novice. The book displays undoubted originality, not only in conception, but in method of treatment too. The cleverness with which traits of character are hit off is promising, whilst the dry, unaffected humour that sometimes comes to the surface indicates the possession of a gift which, when discreetly exercised, is a very winning one. The style, on the whole, is crisp and terse, seldom halting and never vapouring. Here and there bits of word-painting (with Nature as the subject) are done in no grandiloquent or inartistic fashion.... The stories are rousing and healthy, and deal mostly with rough-and-ready Australian settlers."
Table Talk.
"In the same department of literature high praise is given by the reviewers to 'The Kidnapped Squatter and other Australian Tales' by Andrew Robertson. Of this gentleman we are not able to speak from personal acquaintance, but we may congratulate him on having scored a real success as a story teller. His merits are simplicity, straightforwardness, knowledge of Australian life and scenery, and the capability of depicting clearly what he sees and notes. These are cardinal merits in the writer of fiction."
Land and Water.
"The four tales this volume contains are pleasantly told and devoid of the impossible and brutal element which too often pervades literature of this class. The second story, 'All for Glittering Gold' is exciting enough to suit the taste of any schoolboy greedy of adventure, and the same may be said of 'A Bush Adventure.' The country where these scenes are laid is graphically described, but not with too much length to detract from the interest of the subject. Mr. Robertson may be said to thoroughly understand the audience he plays to, and is able, while amusing and interesting them, to raise their tone and earn their respect and liking. The pathos contained in 'Jack Reeveley' will make the story pleasant reading for older heads than a book of this stamp usually appeals to, and we heartily recommend Mr. Robertson's book to all who are desirous of giving an acceptable volume to their boy-friends at Christmas."
London and New York:
LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO.