7–26628.
After careful research among state documents, reviews, newspapers, and various authoritative works the author has presented some fresh material which reveals Empress Eugénie in relation to court life rather than in relation to “state policies.” “The reader has served up to him small, detached chunks of history, isolated incidents, descriptions of festivities, scenes at court, constant praise of Eugénie’s beauty and charm, all mingled together without any attempt to trace either a logical sequence of events, development of character, or growth of purpose.”—N. Y. Times.
“This is the first volume in which a serious attempt has been made to give a complete and authentic account of the remarkable woman.”
| + | Acad. 71: 653. D. 29, ’06. 1660w. |
“On the whole, we repeat, the book is excellent, and it contains very few downright blunders; though naturally the cause of the Empress is espoused.”
| + + − | Ath. 1906, 2: 477. O. 20. 480w. |
“Queen Victoria’s affection for Eugenie seems to have gone a long way in determining the biographer’s point of view. It is a point of view, however, that rather fails to emphasize than denies faults in its subject.”
| + − | Ind. 63: 634. S. 12, ’07. 230w. |
“The author of the present volume has tried eagerly to do full justice to her subject. But partly by reason of that very eagerness and partly by reason of what is apparently native incapacity, her book is very unsatisfactory.”