“There are many passages in Professor Saintsbury’s book which only experts will be able to understand. He calls it a history, and he has tried to make it one; but no one ever had a style less suited to the telling of a plain story. Yet, anyone interested in the subject will make a great mistake if he refuses to read the book because of the way in which it is written; for it has one merit great enough to atone for a thousand minor faults.”
+ + – Lond. Times. 5: 229. Je. 29, ’06. 2710w. (Review of v. 1.)
“The most extraordinary thing about this volume is that, unintentionally as it would appear, the author has produced the one English book now existing which is likely to be of real use to those who wish to perfect themselves in the formal side of verse composition.”
+ + – Nation. 83: 189. Ag. 30, ’06. 1560w. (Review of v. 1.)
“He writes in a breezy, somewhat pugnacious, frequently erratic style, ... and he manages to make even the dryer linguistic parts of his subject interesting.”
+ + N. Y. Times. 11: 360. Je. 2, ’06. 740w. (Review of v. 1.)
“Freshness of style and illustration makes It much more delightful than most technical works.”
+ + Outlook. 83: 526. Je. 30, ’06. 150w. (Review of v. 1.) + + R. of Rs. 34: 254. Ag. ’06. 100w. (Review of v. 1.)
“Needless to say, the great erudition we have come to expect from all Professor Saintsbury’s work is apparent on every page.”
+ + Spec. 97: sup. 473. O. 6, ’06. 160w. (Review of v. 1.)