A woman flees empty social triumphs to live in an isolated town with her clergyman father and there meets a mysterious man.
For E.S. Maine, see Novel 141
“Scarscliff Rocks is a story of considerable merit. . . . The most salient merit of the book is in the carefully studied contrast of the two chief female characters, which are both well conceived and elaborated. . . . The plot . . . has been skilfully handled, and not overwrought, as it might readily have been.” Academy, June 26, 1875
“It has the old air of story-telling about it, and not that of ‘studies’ of this, that, and the other. . . The author has successfully depicted commonplace characters without making them bores.” Spectator, August 21, 1875
A contrasting view:
“What all such tales as ‘Scarscliff Rocks’ want, and there are generally at least a dozen of them every quarter, is dramatic power. We have sensational instead of dramatic scenes. The characters are generally fairly drawn, but are often dull when they are not sensational.” Westminster Review, October, 1875
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