Payne, John. Selections from the poetry of John Payne made by Tracy and Lucy Robinson; with an introduction by Lucy Robinson. *$2.50. Lane.
Mrs. Robinson says in her introduction that this volume of poems is published as “an appeal to all lovers of poetry on behalf of one of its uncrowned kings—widely known, it is true, as a translator, but as a poet receiving less than insular recognition.” The selections include ballads, blank verse and sonnets, “they are exquisitely graceful, and yet profoundly impressive, pervaded by a moving undertone of sadness, which perhaps reaches its full expression in the beautiful poem ‘The grave of my songs.’ How the poet could have remained in comparative obscurity so long can only be explained by the pre-eminence of his translations, and his own exceeding modesty as to his original writings.” (Outlook.)
“These ‘Selections’ have been made with excellent taste and judgment by Tracy and Lucy Robinson, the latter furnishing the Introduction which is done with sympathetic insight and with fine appreciation of the subject.” Edith M. Thomas.
+ + Critic. 49: 141. Ag. ’06. 550w.
“Is supplied as an extremely interesting study of his work as a whole.” Wm. M. Payne.
+ + Dial. 40: 326. My. 16, ’06. 930w. + Ind. 61: 696. S. 20, ’06. 340w.
“The first impression made by the selection is that of a marvelous virtuosity, an amazing metrical and verbal ingenuity. Of the poeticalness, so to say, of Mr. Payne’s literary impulse there can be no doubt.”
+ Nation. 82: 327. Ap. 19, ’06. 750w.
“His inventive genius and remarkable use of melodious English give an unusual pleasure to the appreciative reader.”