University of Virginia Library

“This lady is the Byron of our modern poetesses. She has very much of that in
tense personal passion by which Byron's poetry is distinguished from the large.
grasp and deeper communion of Wordsworth. She has also Byron's beautiful
intervals of tenderness, his strong practical thought, and his foreible expression.
It is not an artificial imitation, but a natural parallel; and we may add, that it is
this, her latest production, which especially induces, and seems to us to justify,
our criticism.

“The Dream is a very beautiful poem, the frame-work of which is simply a
lovely mother watching over a lovely daughter asleep; which daughter dreams,
and when awaked tells her dream; which dream depicts the bliss of a first love
and an early union, and is followed by the mother's admonitory comment, import
ing the many accidents to which wedded happiness is fiable, and exhorting to
moderation of hope, and preparation for severe duties. It is in this latter portion
of the poem that the passion and the interest assume a personal hue; and passages
occur which sound like juvelins hurled by an Amazon.”

“We find it difficult to overstate the deep interest we have taken in this volume,
or the mingled sentiments of admiration, sympathy, and respect with which we
offer to the writer our very sincere, though very imperfect praise.”

“There can be no question that the performance bears throughout the stamp of
extraordinary ability—the sense of easy power very rarely deserts us. But we
pause on the bursts of genius; and they are many... The exquisite beauty
of the verses is worthy of the noble womanly feelings expressed in them...
We wish we had room for a score more of these masterly sketches—but we hope
we have given enough, not to excite attention, for that such gifts employed with
such energy must at once command, even were the name on the title-page a new
one—but enough to show that we have not observed with indifference this manifestation
of developed skill—this fairest wreath as yet won in the service of the
graver Muses for the name of Sheridan.”

“This is poetry, true poetry, and of the sort we unfeignedly approve—the
genuine product of a cultivated mind, a rich fancy, and a warm, well reguiated
heart. The aim is noble, the tone elevated, the train of thought refined and chastened,
though singularly fearless, the choice of images and illustrations, judicious,
and the language often beautiful, and always clear.

“We find in almost every page of this elegant volume, some bold burst, graceful
allusion, or delicate touch;—some trait of external nature, or glimpse into the recesses
of the heart—that irresistibly indicates the creating or transfiguring power
of genius.”

“Under cover of addressing the young Prince of Wales, Mrs. Norton has written
a very beautiful poem upon the great domestic question of the day—the condition
of the people... The poem is divided into four parts—Spring, Summer,
Autumn, and Winter. No connected story binds them together, but a succession
of remarkably pleasing pictures from nature are presented to the mind.”

“This is the first complete American edition of Talfourd's Plays and Poems.
It will meet with a hearty welcome from his admirers, and their name is `Legion.”'

“Talfourd is a thoughtful and purely classic writer, and this new volume is
indeed an addition to the select library.”

“Talfourd's poems are too well known to require praise. A chaste, elevated,
and even style—a perfect model of grace and melody; and withal pervaded by a
generous and humane philosophy.”

“A most acceptable addition to the truly choice reading of the day. If the
volume contained only `Ion' alone. it would be worth twice the price at which it
is sold, to any reader of pure and classic taste.”

“This remarkable poem (Ion) has justly called to itself more attention than any
other work of the times. It has given more pleasure to the reader, and more fame
to the writer, than all the red-hot productions of the intense school put together.”

“Ion is an eminently chaste and poetical creation, graceful and polished in its
atyle, pare and elevated in its sentiments, full of thoughts, which, without being
forced, appear original, and adorned with images of great beauty.”

“Who that has read, and re-read with fresh delight, the works of a gifted mind,
does not long to become familiar with the private life of the writer? Who, of all
the poetesses now living, could pen so truthful an essay on the genius of Mrs.
Hemans, as Mrs. Sigourney?”

“These memoirs, from a sister's hand, with their authenticity, combine all
those attractive graces of style and language peculiar to the tracings of a female
pen.”

“A well-written biography, prefaced by a beautiful Essay on the genius of Mrs.
Hemans, from the pen of Mrs. Sigourney.”