Page:The Spoils of Poynton (London, William Heinemann, 1897).djvu/297



The Times.—'With the exception of The Scapegoat, this is unquestionably the finest and most dramatic of Mr. Hall Caine's novels. . . The Manxman goes very straight to the roots of human passion and emotion. It is a remarkable book, throbbing with human interest.'

The Guardian.—'A story of exceptional power and thorough originality. The greater portion of it is like a Greek tragic drama, in the intensity of its interest, and the depth of its overshadowing gloom. . . . But this tragedy is merely a telling background for a series of brilliant sketches of men and manners, of old-world customs, and forgotten ways of speech which still linger in the Isle of Man.'

The Standard.—'A singularly powerful and picturesque piece of work, extraordinarily dramatic. . . . Taken altogether, The Manxman cannot fail to enhance Mr. Hall Caine's reputation. It is a most powerful book.'

The Morning Post.—'If possible, Mr. Hall Caine's work, The Manxman, is more marked by passion, power, and brilliant local colouring than its predecessors. . . . It has a grandeur as well as strength, and the picturesque features and customs of a delightful country are vividly painted.'

The World.—'Over and above the absorbing interest of the story, which never flags, the book is full of strength, of vivid character sketches, and powerful word-painting, all told with a force and knowledge of local colour.'

The Queen.—'The Manxman is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable books of the century. It will be read and re-read, and take its place in the literary inheritance of the English-speaking nations.'

The St James's Gazette.—'The Manxman is a contribution to literature, and the most fastidious critic would give in exchange for it a wilderness of that deciduous trash which our publishers call fiction. . . . It is not possible to part from The Manxman with anything but a warm tribute of approval.'—.

The Christian World.—'There is a great fascination in being present, as it were, at the birth of a classic; and a classic undoubtedly The Manxman is ... He who reads The Manxman feels that he is reading a book which will be read and re-read by very many thousands with human tears and human laughter.'

Mr. T. P. O'Connor, in the 'Sun.'—'This is a very fine and great story—one of the finest and greatest of our time. . . . Mr. Hall Caine reaches heights which are attained only by the greatest masters of fiction. . . . I think of the great French writer, Stendhal, at the same moment as the great English writer. . . . In short, you feel what Mr. Howells said of Tolstoi, "This is not like life; it is life." . . . He belongs to that small minority of the Great Elect of Literature.'

The Scotsman.—'It is not too much to say that it is the most powerful story that has been written in the present generation. . . . The love of Pete, his simple-mindedness, his sufferings when he has lost Kate, are painted with a master-hand. . . . It is a work of genius.'


 * WILLIAM HEINEMANN,, W.C.