“Miss Humphrey has shown no lack of temerity and assurance in handling the things of the spirit; but in so doing she has merely revolved around her subject without ever really grappling it. The novel, as a whole, is neither pleasing nor convincing.”
− + Cath World 112:544 Ja ’21 330w
“It is, perhaps, in construction and development and emotional tensity the best work she has yet done. There is, indeed, much fine and keen perception of spiritual beauty throughout the book.”
+ N Y Times 25:23 Jl 18 ’20 380w
HUMPHREYS, ELIZA M. J. (GOLLAN) (MRS DESMOND HUMPHREYS) (RITA, pseud.). Diana of the Ephesians. *$1.75 (1c) Stokes
20–2263
The hero of this story is the incarnation of egotism, self-conceit and arrogant, heartless megalomania. She is a Greek girl of doubtful parentage, her father an Englishman. Claiming the guardianship of an English professor she comes to England at the age of seventeen, consumed with ambition to become a great writer and under the delusion of being the daughter of some great personage. Rough-shod she walks over everybody in the home that has received her; wheedles herself into the good graces of an old lord; has a brief but dazzling and artificial career and sinks into oblivion as the bubble of her genius bursts and the true secret of her humble origin is revealed.
Ath p1386 D 19 ’19 40w
“The story is well written and entertaining, but endows the girl with improbable power.”