“This novel, as its title indicates, is an attempt to paint the manners and life of Grecian Classical times. Mrs. Child has some intellectual traits, which are well suited to success in this field of literary enterprize. She has a vigorous and exuberant imagination, and an accurate eye for beauty of form. She understands the harmonious construction of language, and can describe both nature and society with liveliness and truth. Her style, in its general character, is rich and eloquent; abounding in brilliant turns and fanciful illustrations. It is generally simple, energetic, and impressive; but sometimes it is too dazzling. The time selected by Mrs. Child is the most brilliant period in the history of Athens.
“We cannot leave the book, without expressing our persuasion that it will take a prominent place in our elegant literature. Every page of it breathes the inspiration of genius, and shows a highly cultivated taste in literature and art.”—N. A. Rev.
LETTERS FROM NEW-YORK.
First and Second Series.
“Mrs. Child is a wonderful woman. It is not likely that all her thoughts will find currency in the world, at this day, and be received as the common-place of the mind; but those, who will regard her as visionary and enthusiastic, will yet admire her originality; and those who think the visionary to be weak in mind, will be startled by such boldness of thought, as none but the strong can conceive; yet visionary and enthusiastic as some may pronounce her, and bold to think what the present thinks itself unprepared for, there is nothing of harsh statement to be found in her expressions. So far from it, that her mind rather resembles the vine which hangs in graceful festoons upon the oak; and its visions remind one not of the splendours of a thunder-storm with gleams of lightning at night, but of the soft light of the morning, or the clouds which crowd around the west to see the sun go down. A gentler, purer, happier spirit, it has not been our fortune to meet with in print.”—Bost. Cour.
THE MOTHER’S BOOK.
New Edition—Revised and Amended.
The value and usefulness of this little book is well known,—it having passed through eight editions in this country and twelve in England.