The story of the early life of Mrs. Montagu, written by her great-great-niece. “The material in the two volumes was gleaned from some sixty-eight cases, in each of which were from 100 to 150 letters, written by Mrs. Montagu or received by her. There are letters to and from the most learned and celebrated personages in England and France and other countries. Among the names mentioned are the Duchess of Portland, Laurence Sterne, Dr. Johnson, Sir Robert Walpole, Mrs. Friend, Elizabeth Carter, the translator of Epictetus; Gilbert West, Nathaniel Hooke, Mrs. Pococke, David Hume, Lyttleton, Lord Bath, Dr. Young, and a number of others.” (N. Y. Times.)
“Mrs. Climenson has succeeded in identifying, with one or two exceptions, the numerous folk whose names occur in her text; in other respects her notes are defective and capricious.”
+ – Acad. 70: 495. My. 26. ’06. 2180w.
“Though containing a variety of readable matter, we think it might with advantage have been shortened by the excision of much domestic detail which is not of general interest.”
+ + – Ath. 1906, 1: 537. My. 5. 2490w.
Reviewed by J. H. Lobban.
Blackwood’s M. 180: 452. O. ’06. 4480w. + Critic. 49: 188. Ag. ’06. 280w. + – Dial. 41: 19. Jl. 1, ’06. 270w.
“Mrs. Climenson has proved herself a loving editor of her kinswoman’s letters. She has verified with enormous labor the dates of letters, many of which were previously uncertain.” Basil Williams.
+ + Eng. Hist. R. 21: 594. Jl. ’06. 410w.