A tragic tale of an unhappy marriage in which a wife sees only neglect of her interests in her husband’s devotion to his career. Her morbid imagination fraught with jealousy and hatred works her ruin. There is retribution in the visitation of her weakness upon her child. It is a negative lesson of psychological import.
Thompson, Vance. Diplomatic mysteries. [**]$1.50. Lippincott.
“Particular mysteries of which the veil is supposed to be rent away in this case include that of the madness of Ludwig of Bavaria.... Another story purports to relate what really happened when the powers took a hand in Crete and gave that island autonomy.... Yet other stories pretend to tell what really happened during that delightful comedy wherein the crown prince of Germany gave his grandmother Victoria’s ring to Miss Gladys Deacon; yet others are of how President Faure of France came to his end, and how the present great war between Japan and Russia ... was ‘made in England.’”—N. Y. Times.
“Mr. Thompson’s style may never be free from affectation and unnecessary embellishment, but at least he has done far better work than this.”
| — | Critic. 47: 287. S. ‘05. 90w. |
“The book is rather fascinating reading, in spite of the circumstance that the real truth is probably as different from Mr. Thompson’s version as Mr. Thompson’s version is from official history.”
| + — | N. Y. Times. 10: 374. Je. 10, ‘05. 390w. | |
| + | N. Y. Times. 10: 388. Je. 17, ‘05. 190w. |
“The chief thing that they lack, however, is verisimilitude.”
| + — | Outlook. 80: 642. Jl. 8, ‘05. 30w. |
“The stories themselves are engaging and well told.”