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*The Husband and the Lover*
	(Review / *The Husband and the Lover: an Historical and Moral Romance, by Alicia Tyndal Palmer*)
	Monthly Mirror, Aug 1809
	New Series, v.6

Though we disapprove the mixture of truth and fiction which is generally found in historical romances, and think with Lafeu, (in 'All's well that ends well') that 'one that lies three thirds, and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard, and thrice beaten,' still we were much pleased with the romance before us and found in the last two volumes considerable promise of future merit. The first volume consists chiefly of details of the fêtes and tournaments exhibited at the court of Louis XIV, which are all copied from the Mémoires de St. Simon, except the embellishment of 'nymphs' in the grottos of St. Germain, 'playing charming rural airs on an organ.' We meet also with descriptions of the Country of France, taken from Swinburne; and conversations on natural history, avowedly borrowed from Buffon. The memory of the Count de Grammont is unfairly attacked by a story which is discreditable to his valour; and, after having read a minute account of the dresses worn by him and every individual at the tournament, we were rather dismayed at finding that they changed their attire in consequence of a masquerade, and that we had to encounter another catalogue of plumes and armour, turbans and stockings. When, however, the author has exhausted the stock of quotations, and made us sufficiently acquainted with the wardrobes of the dramatis personae, this work rises considerably in our estimation by its animated relation of the conquests of John Sobieski and his delivery of Vienna; and we think that great commendation is due to the writer for the care which has here been taken to avoid unneccessary violations of the veracity of history: as well as for the art and industry with which many interesting and authentic anecdotes have been woven into the story. Provided by Lindsey Karen Holland