20–17085
“The scene is laid first in Ireland at the close of the eighteenth century; and we are taken thence to the fleet at the time of the mutiny at the Nore, and later to Jamaica. The hero, Dyck Calhoun, is a young Irish gentleman, who falls innocently into disgrace. He becomes a common seaman and a mutineer; he escapes to Jamaica; and here he gradually achieves success, in spite of the persistent enmity of the governor, with whom he has fought a successful duel in his early days.”—The Times [London] Lit Sup
“The author seems well able to depict the English soldier and sailor of the day, but he knows nothing of the Irish soul or character.”
+ − Cath World 112:545 Ja ’21 230w
“To judge from internal evidence, ‘No defence’ was written simply and solely in order that it might eventually be turned into a motion picture, with little or no regard for literary excellence. From first to last, the book is carelessly written, and the tale is devoid of atmosphere, while the dialogue reveals very little effort to keep the speech of the different persons in character.”
− N Y Times p26 S 12 ’20 900w
“The book has dash, fire, and romance.”
+ Outlook 126:333 O 20 ’20 450w
“It lacks something both of the ardour and of the fundamental gravity which make romance completely valid; but it has an undeniable sincerity which makes it very much more readable than most such works.”