“As a result of such a gigantic undertaking, confined within the narrow limits of 350 pages, his book is conspicuous for broad surveys and vague generalities. By its lack of close individual characterization and accurate detailed description it lies at the very antipodes of Sainte-Beuve’s critical method. The translation is not so good as it might be.”
| − + | Nation. 85: 143. Ag. 15, ’07. 970w. |
“Each step in his work is so carefully taken and the proportions so well maintained that one can have no possible doubt of the underlying truth of his whole theme.”
| + + | N. Y. Times. 12: 338. My. 25, ’07. 800w. |
“It is certainly safe to say that the wider a reader’s acquaintance with the literature of the world, the more benefit he will get from M. Loliée’s work. It has been well translated by Mr. Power.”
| + + | Spec. 97: 65. Jl. 14, ’06. 190w. |
Loliee, Frederic. Women of the second empire: chronicles of the court of Napoleon III; comp. from unpublished documents; tr. by Alice M. Ivimy. *$7. Lane.
In this volume “pageant ... defiles before you in all its magnificence. The empress Eugenie, who set the fashion to the women of Europe, the Countess de Castiglione, Madame de Rutz, Laure de Rothschild, the Princess Mathilde, Countess le Hon and many others—all pass on their way, and the place of each in the procession is defined. As each passes too you learn something of her character and attainments; and in a discreet whisper stories are told of her doings.... Moreover it is illustrated with fifty-one photographs of the celebrities, superbly reproduced.”—Acad.
“Exceedingly well written and interesting as gossip may be. But M. Loliée’s preface and work are more reasonable and without that desperate brightness—of a salesman exhibiting wares. He has been untiring in his search for information and successful. The translation is well done.”