+ Review 3:392 O 27 ’20 170w Spec 125:153 Jl 31 ’19 380w The Times [London] Lit Sup p181 Mr 18 ’20 1700w
THOMPSON, JOHN REUBEN. Poems; with a biographical introd. by J: S. Patton. *$2 Scribner 811
20–6690
“The University of Virginia edition of the ‘Poems of John R. Thompson’ is a tribute to the memory of one of the most memorable of Confederate poets. Now first collected, Thompson’s verses exhibit the gay and friendly—nor wholly unpuritanical—spirit which ruled the older literary Richmond. Here are echoes of Byron, Campbell, Southey, Béranger, Heine, Praed, Holmes, Saxe, neatly fitted to Virginian occasions. The rhymed essays, Patriotism, Virginia, and Poesy, sum up practically all that young Virginians were thinking and feeling from 1855 to 1859. The book was made possible by the Alfred Henry Byrd gift, and well edited by Mr John S. Patton.”—Nation
Booklist 16:338 Jl ’20
“It is good poetry of its time and kind, perfectly typical of the spirit of the mid-nineteenth century, although it does not touch the beauty and vigor of Poe, or the later sweetness and light of Lanier.” E. F. E.
+ Boston Transcript p6 Ap 14 ’20 1500w + Nation 110:560 Ap 24 ’20 260w
“John R. Thompson was not a genius. He was a gentleman of talent and culture. His verse is witty, fluent, eloquent, exquisitely ironical, but never great.” M. Wilkinson
+ N Y Times p18 Ag 8 ’20 750w