“In ‘Idyls of the Norfolk Broads’ Mr. P. H. Emerson still further adds to our knowledge of the pastoral life and landscape of the English Fens. He is in love with the country—he calls it an earthly paradise; and never did lover sing the praises of his mistress with more enthusiasm than does Mr. Emerson the distinctive beauties of this land of mists and marshes and sweet-scented meadows, with its industrious and homely people.... The scenes have been selected with an artist’s eye, and are reproduced in really a delightful manner—two especially are very pleasing—‘Flowers of the Mere,’ in which we have the head of a charming little village maiden, and ‘A Grey Day Pastoral,’ the silvery tones of which have at least been suggested in black and white. Accompanying each plate is a concise, well-written description of the scenery depicted.”—Scotsman.
“The present volume of proofs on India paper, reproducing original negatives by the autotype process, presents some of the most charming and characteristic types of East Anglian life and scenery.”—Daily Telegraph.
“That Mr. Emerson is an enthusiastic lover of the Norfolk Broads is very evident. To him East Norfolk is an earthly paradise, replete with all the elements that conduce to poetry and art. Of these the former finds an outcome in the descriptive letterpress, and the latter in twelve photographs, which illustrate one or other phases of life or nature in these broads....
“These pictures are, in most cases, full of feeling. In technical merit ‘The Windmill’ excels. It is a very charming little picture, about four inches square, representing a windmill standing close by a stream, boats lying at repose alongside. The engraving, printing, and general get-up are of a high order of merit.”—British Journal of Photography.
“Mr. Emerson gives a poetic account, almost with the loving fervour of Virgil, of the beauties that he so much feels.... Altogether Mr. Emerson has in this last series done an excellent thing, and should the time come when photographers in general do similarly, artists will not speak of photography as they very often do at present.”—Photographic News.
“On the whole, the series is representative of the district of which Mr. Emerson writes with the knowledge that comes of enthusiastic study. ‘The Mill,’ ‘The Haysel’ and the marshy pasture. No. 3, are charming pictures. ‘A Grey Day Pastoral’ is a pleasing example of the cool, moist, and luminous effect of mild diffused light under a thin veiled sky. Mr. Emerson’s text is pleasant reading.”—Saturday Review.
“Mr. Emerson is well known as the producer of some of our most artistic photographs and these ‘Idyls’ cannot fail to increase his reputation.... Each one is a delightful study.... The composition in each case is admirable, and they are printed in a manner which shows advance in photographic art.”—Artist.
“This is truly a book for the drawing-room table. The introductory matter, as well as the descriptive text, give proof that Mr. Emerson is as successful a worker with pen as with sun-pencil, for the matter is full of poetic touches which only a true lover of Nature would be capable of, and which few could express in such a charming manner.”—The Camera.
PICTURES OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE.