Edwin Longsden Long, The Cousins
Three sisters react to the return of their wealthy and distinguished cousin from India.
This novel provides a generous sampling of its author’s characteristically deft social comedy (see Novels 018, 066, 121), despite a sometimes annoying plot.
“There is a resemblance in the manner of handling to Miss Austen’s manner, especially in the first volume; and when it is said that Cousins does not come too discreditably out of the comparison, we need not say that a very high compliment is thereby paid to the author.” Academy, July 26, 1879
“It is, in part at least, a very good novel—one of the best that we have read for a long time. The situation . . . upon which it turns is . . . novel and . . . has great capabilities. . . . Its great attraction lies in the delicacy of the character drawing, in the charming domestic sketches in which it abounds, and in the natural and easy dialogue which is so rare an accomplishment with novelists. The first volume, which is far the best, will remind many readers of Miss Austen’s work, and it would be impossible to give it higher praise.” Manchester Guardian, August 18, 1879
Its “success is, in our judgment, decided”; it is “as careful and honest as it is modest and pure. The purpose of the story is kept in view throughout; there are no tricks of style or language, and there is no padding.” Saturday Review, August 30, 1879
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v.1 https://archive.org/details/cousins01walfo