“We laid the book down with the conviction established that it is one of the most fascinating and withal instructive, historical works that have appeared for the past few years. For, notwithstanding its somewhat flippant title, it is a piece of serious work, though not precisely history. The narrative runs on, from first to last, in a brisk and lucid flow, upon the surface of which bubbles up from time to time a flash of the humor and good-natured sarcasm that we should expect from the pen that has given us the ‘Life of a prig.’ A fine introduction by Dom Gasquet adds another charm to the book.”
| + + + | Cath. World. 80: 684. F. ‘05. 500w. |
“The work is slightly tinged with a Catholic bias, but is on the whole very fair in its statement of events and impartial, if sometimes original, in its judgment of men.”
| + + — | Dial. 38: 159. Mr. 1, ‘05. 170w. |
“A pleasantly written life of King James, intended for the general reader and possessing no historical value.” C. H. F.
| + | Eng. Hist. R. 20: 827. O. ‘05. 320w. |
“Uncommonly interesting throughout but unconvincing.”
| + — | Ind. 59: 454. Ag. 24, ‘05. 190w. |
“While less convincing than Dr. Airy’s life of Charles II. this volume has the merits which are represented by a fulness of information and incisive writing.”
| + | Nation. 80: 503. Je. 22, ‘05. 570w. |