Dickinson, Goldsworthy Lowes. From king to king. **$1. McClure.
7–12876.
For this American edition the work appearing in England in 1891 has been rewritten and revised. “Aims at presenting ‘The tragedy of the Puritan revolution’ in a series of dramatic scenes or dialogues. ‘The pages that follow,’ writes Mr. Dickinson in his reprinted preface to the first edition, ‘contain an attempt to state, in a concrete form, certain universal aspects of a particular period of history. The tragedy lies in a conflict of reforming energy with actual men and institutions; and it has been the object of the author to delineate vividly the characters of leading actors in the struggle, their ideals and the distortion of these, as reflected in the current of events.’” (N. Y. Times.)
“All criticism of the work must return to the question of the success of the dramatic dialogue as an essay form. On the whole, one finds himself inclined to decide that the experiment is successful; for the dialogue has enabled our author to realize his hope of effectively setting forth the clash of the individual with a movement. And yet there is a little reserve about one’s commendation of the book as a whole. In the first place, it can appeal only to a much narrower circle than most of Mr. Dickinson’s other productions. In the second place, there are occasional suggestions of the cold literary exercise.” F. B. R. Hellems.
| + − | Dial. 43: 115. S. 1, ’07. 1500w. |
“One of the most satisfactory books of closet drama of the extreme type that we have lately seen.”
| + | Nation. 85: 35. Jl. 11, ’07. 440w. |
Reviewed by Cleveland Palmer.
| + + | N. Y. Times. 12: 153. Mr. 16, ’07. 3280w. |