| + | Nation. 81: 303. O. 12, ‘05. 380w. |
Benson, Edward Frederic. Act in a backwater. $1.50. Appleton.
“Mr. Benson has given us a slight but pleasing study of life in a small cathedral town. The brother and sister of a poor nobleman settle there, and introduce a novel element into the placid life of the place which gives many opportunities for comedy. The son of a canon, an artist, and therefore a rebel against the tyranny of the close, falls in love with the sister, and the progress of their romance is the main interest of the book.”—Spec.
“All this has the makings of a capital light comedy, which no one could have done better than Mr. Benson. But for some obscure reason he has seen fit to introduce episodes entirely out of all harmony that ruin his effect. They give the impression of heartlessness and, what is worse, are bad art.”
| + — | Acad. 68: 106. F. 4, ‘05. 300w. | |
| + | Ath. 1905, 1: 203. F. 18. 590w. |
“A flat little story without construction or sustained interest.”
| — | Critic. 46: 477. My. ‘05. 80w. |
“As an example, not of Mr. Benson’s power, but of his wit, cleverness, and knowledge of human nature, ‘An act in a backwater’ is a delightful bit of work.”
| + | N. Y. Times. 10: 149. Mr. 11, ‘05. 1030w. |
“It has some pleasant bits of human nature and one or two lovable characters, but, considered as a novel, it is wretchedly constructed.”