Page:The Spoils of Poynton (London, William Heinemann, 1897).djvu/305

 A Study of a Peculiar People

The Times.—'From whatever point of view we regard it, it is a remarkable book.'

The Athenæum.—'The chief interest of the book lies in the wonderful description of the Whitechapel Jews. The vividness and force with which Mr. Zangwill brings before us the strange and uncouth characters with which he has peopled his book are truly admirable. . . . Admirers of Mr. Zangwill's fecund wit will not fail to find flashes of it in these pages.'

The Daily Chronicle.—'Altogether we are not aware of any such minute, graphic, and seemingly faithful picture of the Israel of nineteenth century London. . . . The book has taken hold of us.'

The Spectator.—'Esther Ansell, Raphael Leon, Mrs. Henry Goldsmith, Reb Shemuel, and the rest, are living creations.'

The Speaker.—'A strong and remarkable book.'

The National Observer.—'To ignore this book is not to know the East End Jew.'

The Guardian.—'A novel such as only our own day could produce. A masterly study of a complicated psychological problem in which every factor is handled with such astonishing dexterity and intelligence that again and again we are tempted to think a really good book has come into our hands.'

The Graphic.—'Absolutely fascinating. Teaches how closely akin are laughter and tears. '

Black and White.—'A moving panorama of Jewish life, full of truth, full of sympathy, vivid in the setting forth, and occasionally most brilliant. Such a book as this has the germs of a dozen novels. A book to read, to keep, to ponder over, to remember.'

W. Archer in 'The World.'—'The most powerful and fascinating book I have read for many a long day.'

Land and Water.—'The most wonderful multi-coloured and brilliant description. Dickens has never drawn characters of more abiding individuality. An exceeding beautiful chapter is the honeymoon of the Hyams. Charles Kingsley in one of his books makes for something of the same sort. But his idea is not half so tender and faithful, nor his handling anything like so delicate and natural.'

Andrew Lang in 'Longman's Magazine.'—'Almost every kind of reader will find Children of the Ghetto interesting.'

T. P. O'Connor in 'The Weekly Sun.'—'Apart altogether from its great artistic merits, from its clear portraits, its subtle and skilful analysis of character, its pathos and its humour, this book has, in my mind, an immense interest as a record of a generation that has passed and of struggles that are yet going on.'

The Manchester Guardian.—'The best Jewish novel ever written.'


 * WILLIAM HEINEMANN,, W.C.