− N Y Times 25:287 My 30 ’20 260w
“There are vivid scenes of departing troops, trench warfare and base hospitals, contrasted with gay glimpses of London society and country life. And pleasant is the mellow romance of the plump chaperone and the ‘God bless my soul’ old family friend—they at least have the saving grace of humor.” Katherine Perry
+ Pub W 97:177 Ja 17 ’20 300w
AYSCOUGH, JOHN, pseud. (BP. FRANCIS BROWNING DREW BICKERSTAFFE-DREW). Abbotscourt. $2 (2c) Kenedy
(Eng ed 20–8732)
This is preeminently a story of human kindness with enough of harshness in it to throw the kindly people and their doings into relief. The two sides of the picture are represented by two branches of the same family: the clerical, younger son side in spiritual and worldly prosperity throughout successive generations; and the baronet side in as steady degeneration. At last there is a reversion to type in Eleanor, the physically and mentally sound and beautiful daughter of the ramshackle Sir Anthony Abbot of Abbotspark, whom the Rev. Thomas Abbot of Abbotscourt heroically resolves to adopt into his family on her father’s death. The story revolves around poor Eleanor’s plight as a misfit both in the vicar’s family, surrounded by kindness, and in her dissolute brother’s house, exposed to his low designs. To escape both she flees into an unknown world and when her trials have reached their climax a veritable conspiracy of kindness and good will bring her back to life and love.
“The story is a vivid picture, drawn with the author’s customary skill, of provincial social life in ecclesiastical circles and interest is well-maintained.”
+ Ath p1168 N 7 ’19 100w
“There is something delicately feminine about John Ayscough’s handling of his theme, his humor, his almost imperceptible irony. ‘Abbotscourt’ cannot be called a great book, nor would its author claim such a distinction for it. But it is worth reading for its style, its purity, and for that fragrance as of lavender and old lace which permeates its pages.”