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Art 32. A Tale of the Times. By the Author of "A Gossip's Story." 12mo. 3 Vols. 12s. sewed. Longman. 1799.
This work is interesting, though too diffuse in its narration, and though it is rendered too prolix by the multiplicity of its reflections. A novel is indebted for its historical merit, to the liveliness and perspicuity of the manner in which it is told; and to endeavour to aid the narration, by explaining the progress of the plot, proclaims barrenness of invention. - The characters are well drawn; and the lesson to married ladies, warning them against male confidants, is important and well urged. The delineation of Fitzosborne, an unprincipled soi-disant philosophe, shews at least an honourable wish in the author to expose the selfish and dangerous principles of some modern ethics.
We cannot but think that distributive justice might have dispensed with the death of the lovely Lady Monteith, as her misfortunes and misbehaviour were occasioned by the infamous plots and diabolical conduct of the ravisher Fitzosborne. Her repentance and reformation [91] might have reconciled her to her husband; and the story, without being less instructive, would have been more in unison with the feelings of a candid and humane reader. The language is uniformly correct; and the moral sentiments do honour to the writer's heart and understanding.
[complete] Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, August 1999
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