'The story throughout is told with vigour.'—Glasgow Citizen.
'Presents a very interesting sketch of the life of the poet, as well as a well-balanced estimate and review of his works.'—Peoples Friend.
'The author has shown scholarship and much enthusiasm in his task.'—Edinburgh Dispatch.
'The kindly, vain, and pompous little wig-maker lives for us in Mr. Smeaton's pages.'—Daily Record.
'A careful and intelligent study.'—Glasgow Herald.
'A very capable piece of literary craftsmanship by a competent hand.'—Edinburgh Evening News.
'It is not a patchwork picture, but one in which the worker, taking genuine interest in his subject and bestowing conscientious pains on his task, has his materials well in hand, and has used them to produce a portrait that is both lifelike and well-balanced.'—Scotsman.
Transcriber's Note:
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.