+ − Ath p332 S 10 ’20 680w + Booklist 17:117 D ’20
“It implies no forgetfulness of Mr Lucas’s more solid achievements to say that he is perhaps the chief of those English writers who are doing the little things supremely well. And his fecundity in finding these little things to do is hardly less than his facility in treating them.” Stanley Went
+ N Y Evening Post p3 N 6 ’20 1100w + N Y Times p10 O 17 ’20 400w
“This book is full of humorous twists and surprises and odd bits and ideas and pleasant letters and anecdotes and—I am afraid I shall have to use the poor, over-worked word—whimsicalities.” E. L. Pearson
+ Review 3:345 O 20 ’20 100w
“Mr Lucas has surpassed himself. And yet, as is often the case, the idea is so simple that almost anyone might have thought of it.... Almost anyone could have thought of the idea, but is there anyone but Mr Lucas who could have carried it out with so near an approach to perfection?”
+ Sat R 130:240 S 18 ’20 750w
“Most of the characterization is very good. To accuse Mr Lucas of slightness of tenuity would be to invite the retort that that was the idea. It is after all a book with which from many writers we should be content.”
+ − Spec 125:439 O 2 ’20 350w
“Apart from the kindly humor which is their main ingredient, Mr E. V. Lucas’s little nibbles at the novel are in themselves amusing to the critic. The form of fiction appeals to him provided that he can use it on his own terms. He can think of the most delightful sets of people and give them appropriate names; he can write all their letters for them and, at a pinch, carry on their conversation; but always on the condition that they keep still and remain strictly true to type. Unfortunately, in real novels as in real life, it is difficult to keep people still.”