“It is as if Mr. Howells’s vision were being contracted instead of enlarged as the years go on. He stops short now at the surface; and delicately and gracefully as he plays about on it, we regret his arrested development.”
| + — | Lond. Times. 4: 209. Je. 30, ‘05. 520w. |
“Is a light comedy with enough social satire to remind us that Mr. Howells is not just fooling for our summer holiday.”
| + + | Nation. 81: 101. Ag. 3, ‘05. 320w. |
“Mr. Howells has not lost any of his cunning in portraying the delightfully illogical phases of the feminine mental processes. Altogether it is a decidedly entertaining book.”
| + + | N. Y. Times. 10: 389. Je. 17, ‘05. 160w. |
“Has all the lightness, the charming comedy touch, of his earlier work, and yet is not lacking in serious purpose. The studies of temperament are both skillful and convincing. It is quite certain that Mr. Howells has written nothing in a happier style; the vein of humor which runs through the book is as fresh as in his earlier work, and parallel with it runs a vein of quiet, kindly irony equally effective.”
| + + + | Outlook. 80: 643. Jl. 8, ‘05. 190w. |
“Beyond a doubt the story is amusing, but to Mr. Howells’ real devotees it must be rather hard sledding.”
| + — | Pub. Opin. 39: 283. Ag. 26, ‘05. 650w. |