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Art. XIV. Martin and Mansfeldt; or, the Romance of Franconia; in 3 Vols. By Anna Maria Mackenzie, Author of Mysteries Elucidated, Feudal Events, &c. about 900 pp.
To those who are far gone in the taste of novel reading, such indigestible trash as Martin and Mansfeldt may be relishing enough, but from such kind of intellectual food - good Lord deliver us! - Not to mention such trifles as want of nature and probability, together with continual violations ofdates (sic) and costume, we have scarce a perspicuous or sensible period throughout the work. The whole is obscured by unconnected parentheses, misapplied images, or rendered ridiculous by affectation, insipid attempts at sentiment, and unmeaning breaks. It is a pity that writers will not study, at least, to render themselves intelligible, before they attempt to be fine. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, January 2000
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