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Art. 14. The Woman of Genius. 12mo. 3 Vols. 16s. 6d. Boards. Longman and Co. 1821.
The heroine of this tale is, to us, one of its least attractive personages; her harangues being misplaced and bombastic, and her difficulties such as would have vanished before a little common sense, "like chaff before the wind." The characters of Ann and Jane, though not pleasing, are far more natural; and those of Rashleigh and Sir Adelmar may be deemed interesting. We do not understand the writer's meaning when he speaks, vol. i. p.42., of 'the celestial ichor of genius,' nor the French expressions which he has chosen to introduce; such as, p.105., 'it has saved you all the fade of an introductory visit.' P.146., 'there was nothing to be seen there but a few demis.' Vol. ii. p.160., 'I have been doing the honours of a proneuse by your mansion.' Several passages are grammatical incorrect: as, p.121., 'She found no consolation in the possibility of his having a good heart, as many people would have done.' P.155., 'Did you not discover who was her father? I should have done.' Vol. iii. p.132., 'this is a question which we must ask at Lady Athol,' &c. This last comes "frae the north." [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, September 1999.
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