“The characters [of this novel] are drawn with realism and subtlety. More especially that of David Mortimer, the hard-bitten old miser, whose cheese-paring, hatred of women, and cynical disbelief in everybody and everything are so cleverly defended that they almost capture the young soul of his nephew Barry Worth, who lives with him and works his farm. David leaves his money to Barry on condition that he doesn’t marry, the fact that Barry was ‘tokened’ to a buxom barmaid having been concealed from him. Barry is true to Marian; the will is void; and the money divided between the miser’s brother and two sisters. But the lawyer who handed the will to Barry delivered at the same time a bulky letter from David to be read in solitude. In that letter is contained the mystery, the heart of the matter which makes the novel.”—Sat R
“The characters are interesting and the story moves along pleasantly and very calmly. There is less humor than in some of the earlier work.”
+ Booklist 16:283 My ’20
“After all, Mr Phillpotts has said his say about human nature on Dartmoor, and he has little new to offer in type or situation. It is pleasant and comfortable to meet some more of his people now and then—and that is all.” H. W. Boynton
+ − Bookm 51:339 My ’20 520w
“The story as a whole is an excellent example of Mr Phillpotts’s style at its best.” E. F. E.
+ Boston Transcript p4 Mr 17 ’20 1200w
“The novel is beautifully written. All Mr Phillpotts’s readers know how fine are his descriptions of his dearly loved Dartmoor, though there are fewer of them in this his latest novel than in the majority of his Dartmoor books.”
+ N Y Times p116 Mr 14 ’20 1150w