“They contain much of interest and value, but yet they fall short of what we should wish the story of human liberty to be.”
+ – Sat. R. 101: 559. My. 5, ’06. 1490w. (Review of v. 1 and 2.)
“The serious defect of the work, however, is that it lacks organization. The process of the development of liberty is not clearly delineated. On the whole, the work despite its shortcomings, must be pronounced a notable one.” George L. Scherger.
+ + – Yale R. 15: 219. Ag. ’06. 500w. (Review of v. 1 and 2.)
McLaws, Emily Lafayette. Maid of Athens. †$1.50. Little.
A romance based upon Byron’s brief wooing of Lady Thyrza Riga, the Maid of Athens, whom he immortalized in verse. Count Riga gives his life for Greece, and Countess Riga rather than fall into the hands of the Turks slays herself, while the child Thyrza was sent to Constantinople and was brought up at court by a renegade uncle. Here Byron found her, and was seriously minded in his love-making, but a rival Turkish suitor brought disaster through a forged letter. Lady Thyrza’s death, and later Byron’s passing away at Messolonghi bring the story to a tragic close.
“Exceptionally well written and giving delightful glimpses of Turkish and Greek life.” Amy C. Rich.
+ Arena. 36: 107. Jl. ’06. 160w. – Ind. 60: 1488. Je. 21, ’06. 120w.
“It cannot be said that Miss McLaws reflects much of the Byronic heat and light, while her Oriental atmosphere is distinctly of a kind never made in the East.”