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Rosella. 4 vols. 12mo. Lane. London. 1800.
This novel upon novels, ridicules, with elegant satire and delicate irony, the impossible events, unnatural incidents, and indecorous situations of contemporary writers. A mother who had herself loved and married a-la-mode d'Heroine loses her husband in early life; but not cured by the circulating-library mania looks forward to see her daughter 'puzzled in the mazes and perplexed with the errors' which had so agreeably tortured the Hermiones, Jaquilinas, Geraldinas, Philippinas, Gipsey Duchesses, and beggar-girls of the day. For this purpose she takes her daughter, an unaffected and unconscious girl, a tour into Wales, that castle-bearing country; expecting in every dingle some 'hair-breadth 'scape,' at every inn some surprising incident, and in every man some libertine adorer, or prosing swain. The story is so artfully managed, we feel uncommon interest for the charming Rosella, and even the mere novel-reading Miss, who sees nothing 'in the bent of the tale' beyond the story, will find her heart engaged in it.
[60] The characters are well diversified and nicely drawn; betraying a mind of observation. The very touches of satire tickle rather than wound the feelings of those writers who have deviated beyond nature and propriety. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, January 2000
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