George Frederick Watts, Miss Mary Kirkpatrick Brunton
A retired merchant, wanting an aristocratic wife and a seat in parliament, tries advertising for both in the newspapers.
Here is the second novel by Henry Milton, Anthony Trollope’s uncle (for the first see Novel 031). I have now recommended at least one novel for each of the 64 years of Victoria’s reign.
It “bears about as much resemblance to life as the broadest farce; but when the improbability is got over, the farce is ludicrous enough. The writing is vigorous and straightforward.” Spectator, January 18, 1845
“The principal characters are cleverly drawn, and the natural course of their progress in life is dramatic, though simple and unforced into striking situations. The course runs easy; the descriptions of men, manners, and things, are the result of sensible observation; and the interest of the whole tale leads the reader on to the end with sufficient effect. . . . Some of the humorous scenes are ludicrous enough, but rather overdone.” Literary Gazette, January 25, 1845
“The story is skilfully developed, . . . the characters are in general well and cleverly individualised. There are several passages in the work that cannot fail to leave on the reader a strong sense of narrative power in the author.” New Monthly Magazine, February, 1845
“Bating an evil propensity to exaggerate, Lady Cecilia Farrencourt is excellently written; and in spite of it, we must not scruple to confess that the book has not a little amused us. The heroine . . . is cleverly drawn; there is a lively, spirited, easy tone in the writing; a great deal of good sense and good-nature; a nice perception of the ludicrous; and perhaps some excuse for even the broadest passages of caricature, in a prevailing abundance of animal spirits.” Examiner, February 8, 1845
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