“He takes such a ‘slice of life’ as might delight Mr Hugh Walpole, and he treats it quite in the manner of Mr Walpole, only—and it is an important difference—he lacks something of his vitality. The substance is more level, a level quality not due to restraint but to quality of vision.” D. L. M.
+ − Boston Transcript p4 O 20 ’20 700w
“The scenes in the library are especially good.”
+ Cleveland p105 D ’20 40w
“The novel as a whole reflects the commonplace lives of the vast majority of us, ‘such poor little figures struggling along in the jungle’ with considerable accuracy.”
+ N Y Times p18 N 14 ’20 850w
“I wish I could feel the glow that so many writing people seem to be feeling about Frederick Niven’s ‘A tale that is told.’ It is pleasant enough, human enough in its somewhat lacklustre fashion; but in the end not much more than ‘a long preparation for something that never happens.’”
+ − Review 4:57 Ja 19 ’21 640w
“The characters are unusually alive; it is a pity that they all lack charm. The book is well constructed; the author has distinct ability.”
+ − Spec 126:56 Ja 8 ’21 40w