“The prose is among the best that the poet has achieved. It would be hard to exaggerate the concision, the polish, and the perfect prose-rhythm of these letters. The letters as a whole are pungent satire on British morality, its sensual sentiment, and its capacity for whitewashing the moral sepulchre.”
| + + — | Ath. 1905, 2: 165. Ag. 5. 2420w. |
“It is pure comedy, both high-spirited and restrained, both caustic and tender.” Olivia Howard Dunbar.
| + + | Critic. 47: 452. N. ‘05. 230w. |
“We are not going to hail Mr. Swinburne as a great novelist on the strength of this performance, but may fairly call it a clever, almost brilliant piece of work in a difficult form.” Wm. M. Payne.
| + + — | Dial. 39: 112. S. 1, ‘05. 580w. |
“They will add nothing to Mr. Swinburne’s fame.”
| + — | Ind. 59: 582. S. 7, ‘05. 100w. |
“For our part, better than the story, better even than the incisive prologue, we love the dedication with its rioting periods and its kingly courtesies.”
| + — | Lond. Times. 4: 225. Jl. 14, ‘05. 950w. |