"The writer has shown himself more critical than his friends, and the result is a gradual, steady progress in power, which we frankly acknowledge.... This long passage studded with graces."—Academy, April 29th, 1876.
BOOKS I. and III. and the COMPLETE WORK.
"In one sense the idea of his Epic is not only ambitious, but audacious, for it necessarily awakens reminiscences of Dante. Not unfrequently he is charmingly pathetic, as in his Helen and Psyche. There is considerable force and no small imagination in the description of some of the tortures in the 'Tartarus.' There is genuine poetical feeling in the 'Olympus.'... We might invite attention to many other passages. But it is more easy to give honest general praise than to single out particular extracts."—Times, February 9th, 1877.
"The whole of this last portion of the poem is exceedingly beautiful.... Nor will any, except critics of limited view, fail to recognize in the Epic a distinct addition to their store of those companions of whom we never grow tired."—Athenæum, March 3rd, 1877.
"We believe that the Epic will approve itself to students as one of the most considerable and original feats of recent English poetry."—Saturday Review, March 31st, 1877.
"Thought, fancy, music, and penetrating sympathy we have here, and that radiant, unnamable suggestive delicacy which enhances the attraction with each new reading."—British Quarterly Review, April, 1877.
"The present work is by far his greatest achievement; the whole tone of it is noble, and portions, more especially the concluding lines, are excessively beautiful."—Westminster Review, April, 1877.
"The work is one of which any singer might justly be proud. In fact, the Epic is in every way a remarkable poem, which to be appreciated must not only be read, but studied."—Graphic, March 10th, 1877.
"We do not hesitate to advance it as our opinion that 'The Epic of Hades' will enjoy the privilege of being classed amongst the poems in the English language which will live."—Civil Service Gazette, March 17th, 1877.
"Exquisite beauty of melodious verse.... A remarkable poem, both in conception and execution. We sincerely wish for the author a complete literary success."—Literary World, March 30th, 1877.