+ Booklist 16:337 Jl ’20
“There is more pure poetry to the square inch of expression on the printed page of Francis Carlin than there is on the whole leaves of printed pages by any Irish-American poet of today. ‘The cairn of stars’ is far better than the earlier book. In the nearly three years since ‘My Ireland,’ Mr Carlin has added a deliberately finished technique to the instinctive technique that was his original gift. He has learned to manage his metres in a way to bring out all the finer shades of his moods and without impairing the spontaneity of feeling. At the same time he has greatly broadened the scope of his interests.” W. S. B.
+ Boston Transcript p11 My 22 ’20 1450w
“Very tuneful and pleasurable and wholesome even if the more rare and mysterious promise of certain earlier poems is not entirely fulfilled.”
+ Cath World 112:397 D ’20 190w
Reviewed by Mark Van Doren
+ Nation 111:sup414 O 13 ’20 140w
“A book that is delightful to read from beginning to end. Mr Carlin will never be a great poet, but he will always be a sincere and honest poet of indubitable talent.”
+ N Y Times p16 N 7 ’20 490w