+ Outlook. 81: 523. O. 28, ’05. 120w. + R. of Rs. 33: 116. Ja. ’06. 90w.
Palmer, Frederick. Lucy of the stars: il. by Alonzo Kimball. †$1.50. Scribner.
“Mr. Frederick Palmer combines in admirable balance the functions of war-correspondent and novelist. When the piping times of peace are at hand, he will sit down to his desk and write you as pretty a story as you could wish to read in an idle hour, and when the war-trumpet sounds, he will sally forth until he is in the thick of the scrimmage collecting observations for a graphic portrayal of the scene of carnage. It is this dual activity that now gives us ‘Lucy of the stars’ as a successor to ‘With Kuroki in Manchuria.’ We like Mr. Palmer’s portrait of the imaginary Lucy, as we liked his portrait of the real Kuroki, but we object most strenuously to the fate that he has bestowed upon her.”—Dial.
“It is a pity that such good material should be used on so persistently pessimistic a theme. The characters are clearly and consistently drawn, the story is well, and in places wittily told, and ‘Lucy of the stars’ is a charming heroine.”
+ – Acad. 71: 286. S. 22, ’06. 300w.
“The merit of the book lies in the presentation, under an unusually attractive aspect, of public life across the Atlantic in certain latter-day phases; yet it can scarcely be said to fulfil the conditions requisite for that difficult achievement, a successful political novel.”
+ – Ath. 1906, 2: 298. S. 15. 160w.
“In order to write a great novel, it is necessary to sympathize with all your characters. Mr. Palmer has not done this; nevertheless, ‘Lucy of the stars’ is worth reading.”
+ – Critic. 49: 120. Ag. ’06. 270w. + – Critic. 49: 192. Ag. ’06. 80w.