Page:The Spoils of Poynton (London, William Heinemann, 1897).djvu/322



The Athenæum.—'The characters are exceptionally distinct, the movement is brisk, and the dialogue is natural and convincing.'

The Pall Mall Gazette.—'Joanna Conway is on distinctly new lines, and it has given us pleasure to follow her spicy, attractive personality through all the phases of her carefully, finely-depicted evolution.'

The National Observer.—'A remarkably life-like picture of English society. The author is a keen observer. The writing is above the average.'

The Daily Chronicle.—'An excellent novel. Joanna Conway is one of the most attractive figures in recent fiction. It is no small tribute to the author's skill that this simple country girl, without beauty or accomplishments, is from first to last so winning a personality. The book is full of excellent observation.'

Black and White.—'Some pleasant hours may be passed in following the fortunes of Joanna, the charming heroine of M. Hamilton's A Self-Denying Ordinance. The book is well written, and holds the attention from start to finish. The characters are true to life.'

The Methodist Times.—'The story retains its interest throughout. It contains some vividly-drawn delineations of character.'

Woman.—'Contains the finest, surest, subtlest character drawing that England has had from a new writer for years and years past.'

Public Opinion.—'A well written and fascinating novel. It is a clever sketch of life in its different phases. . . . "Every personage strikes one as being richly endowed with individuality."'

The Manchester Courier.—'A decided success. There are such women as Joanna Conway in the world, though, unfortunately, not so many as are required; but there are few writers of the present day who can do justice to such a character, so poetical, and yet so practical. . . . There is humour in the book: the scene is chiefly in Ireland, and who can truly write of Ireland without humour? but the greatest charm is in the wonderful tenderness, in the womanly chivalry which renders so true the title of a self-denying ordinance.


 * WILLIAM HEINEMANN,, W.C.