“Mr Gosse’s diversions are also our diversions; for to anyone with a literary tincture of mind these miscellaneous studies in criticism and biography are the best and most entertaining of reading. Perhaps the best thing in the book is Mr Gosse’s account of two literary revolutionaries of an earlier age, Joseph and Thomas Warton.” A. L. H.
+ Ath p1031 O 17 ’19 1600w Booklist 16:234 Ap ’20
“It is altogether likely that these essays will fail to please the modern school of literary pencillers who scorn scholarship, and who fancy that verbal smartness and triviality is the only method of criticism. Mr Gosse writes with a light and pleasant touch. He is by no means a dry-as-dust because he is serious, and here he has written a series of papers that are a distinct contribution to the literature of criticism.” E. F. E.
+ Boston Transcript p6 Ja 28 ’20 1300w
“As a literary man-of-the-world, unbewildered and unprejudiced, Mr Gosse goes forth to pay his calls here and there down the centuries, and returns to his club in Victoria street to chat with his intimates. He is correct in dress and manner, discreet in speech; he says the right thing to every one, and nearly always of every one. A Major Pendennis of literature, one might say, he plays an important part in the world which he has so long cultivated.” R. M. Lovett
+ Dial 68:777 Je ’20 1550w
“Mr Gosse is bravely determined not to be a mere praiser of time past. His poise is beautiful; he is immensely urbane to the younger critic and grants the latter’s contentions right and left. But he cannot hide the sadness in his heart at the thought of the cold young men with something inscrutable in their faces who despise so much that is venerable and beautiful to him.” Ludwig Lewisohn
+ − Nation 110:690 My 22 ’20 1250w
“Suggestive and entertaining.” R: Le Gallienne
+ N Y Times 25:151 Ap 4 ’20 3100w