“As a means of arriving at this result he has invented a contemporary of his hero who shall tell the tale for him. The idea is ingenious and gives rise to some pages of interesting reflection and comment by the old humanist in the course of his narrative. Yet in this very scheme lies also the initial weakness of the book.”
| + − | Acad. 71: 655. D. 29, ’06. 920w. |
“Although the memoir is a fiction the author has held loyally to historic fact and shows remarkable familiarity with the authorities as is evidenced by notes and references.”
| + | A. L. A. Bkl. 3: 122. My. ’07. 110w. |
“Alternately we are tantalized by our author’s refusal, as historian, to go one step beyond his documents, and annoyed by his airy readiness, as novelist, to brush aside a difficulty, without making the slightest effort to clear it up.”
| + − | Ath. 1907, 1: 97. Ja. 26. 1420w. |
“A product that is neither history nor romance something that historians will not read because they must regard it as fiction, while novel readers will avoid it because it advertises itself as history. In his attempt to be too clever Mr. Hutton has overreached himself.”
| − + | Ind. 62: 1151. My. 16, ’07. 390w. |
“This is an excellent book, worthy to be read by every lover of good English, and unquestionably the finest piece of work Mr. Hutton has as yet done.”
| + + − | Nation. 83: 559. D. 27, ’06. 850w. | |
| N. Y. Times. 11: 828. D. 1, ’06. 350w. |