[*] “It is easy in such a work to fall into the role of mere purveyor of scandal, but Mr. Wilkins never loses sight of his main theme, and the book is primarily a study of character. If now and then he seems to speak from a brief, on the whole he sticks soberly to facts, and his comments are generally fair and convincing. He has performed a delicate task with good taste and good sense, and has produced what is not only a volume of entertaining gossip, but a solid contribution to the history of the epoch.”
| + + — | Spec. 95: sup. 788. N. 18, ‘05. 1480w. |
Wilkinson, Kosmo. Personal story of the upper house. [*]$3. Dutton.
The main purpose of this book is to set forth “how the peers of England, from being an estate of the realm, grew into an independent parliamentary assembly; how and by what personal agencies the hereditary chamber became in a sense the parent of the elective; on what issues, by what degrees, it co-operated with other agencies to establish the house of commons; how then, from seeing in that chamber its natural ally, if not its political offspring, the upper house gradually discovered in the lower a rival and a foe.”
“He has undoubtedly succeeded in his intention of writing what is most likely to find acceptance with those who read to be interested as well as informed.”
| + | Acad. 68: 391. Ap. 8, ‘05. 660w. |
“Is a good book of gossip about the Lords, in which there are plenty of stories and few mistakes.”
| + + — | Ath. 1905, 1: 335. Mr. 18. 160W. |
“There is no partisanship in his estimates and judgments. There are some really masterly characterizations, especially among those of later times. References to authorities are few and far between, and here and there he makes statements which seem to need the support of good authorities.”
| + + — | Ind. 59: 335. Ag. 10, ‘05. 550w. |