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Art. 20. Chronicles of an Illustrious House; or the Peer, the Lawyer, and the Hunch-back. Embellished with Characters and Anecdotes of well known Persons. By Anne of Swansea, Author of 'Cambrian Pictures,' 'Sicilian Mysteries,' &c. 12mo. 5 Vols. 1l.7s.6d. Newman and Co. 1816.
It may be that those characters which are here said to be attempted from real life are 'well known' to the writer, but they cannot interest the rest of the world, being represented as obscure and spiteful persons inhabiting a country-village. The hero of the tale also forfeits our regard by his meanness in desiring to marry, for the sake of fortune, a woman whom he despises; and by denying, through false shame, his affinity to a worthy man whom he believes to be his brother. Some expressions in the work are indelicate, and such as we should reluctantly believe to have proceeded from a female pen; while others are inaccurate, and would equally disgrace a writer of either sex: for instance: Vol. i. p. 42., 'he hastily rose up.' - P. 56., 'the horrorized valet withdrew.' - Vol. ii. p. 77., 'the true quality stare.' - P. 81., 'Mr Montague considered him a servile dust-licking being.' - Vol. iii. p. 46., 'her eyes were frequently lit up with a dazzling lustre,' &c. Throughout the work, also, we have too large a portion of vulgar character, as well as vulgar language; and the incidents are all as old as the now old title of Novel, under which we seldom find any thing new. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, November 1999.
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