From: The Dial, Vol. II, No. I (July 1841).
Author:
Published: E. P. Peabody 1841 Boston
THIS work, whose very existence tells a tale of heroic cheerfulness, such as its author loves to celebrate, would do honor to her best estate of health and hopeful energy. It has all the vivacity, vigor of touch, and high standard of character, which commanded our admiration in Ella of Garveloch; the sweetness and delicate sentiment of the Sabbath Musings; the lively feeling of Nature and descriptive talent which were displayed in her work on this country. The book is overladen with incident and minute traits of character, yet is in these respects a great improvement on Deerbrook. As an artist Miss Martineau wants skill in selection among her abundant materials, and in effective grouping of her figures; but this, should life be prolonged, she seems likely to attain. The conception of Toussaint’s character is noble and profound; its development and execution by new circumstances on the whole managed with skill, though the impression is somewhat marred where an attempt is made to heighten it by surrounding him with objects of luxury. This part is not well managed, and produces an effect, probably very different from what the writer intended. The men are not real live men, but only paper sketches of such; but in this Miss Martineau only shares the failure of all her contemporaries. Scott was the only heir of Fielding’s wand. This novel deserves a place in the next rank to those which made the modern novel no unworthy successor to the ancient drama.
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