Novel 273: Peter Hay Hunter and Walter Whyte, My Ducats and My Daughter (1884)
The poor nephew of a Scottish industrialist pursues a career in journalism.
I can discover nothing about Walter Whyte. Peter Hay Hunter (1854-1909), a minister in the church of Scotland, wrote some seven novels. This one is particularly interesting for its carefully realized setting, a badly polluted Scottish industrial town.
It is “both in point of conception and execution . . . above the average of the ordinary novel”; “the style is vigorous and unaffected” and the author “possesses a considerable fund of shrewd humour.” Athenaeum, May 17, 1884
“It is written in clear, flowing, idiomatic English; the plot, without being trite and commonplace, is consistent and probable; there are three or four very well drawn characters in it.” Academy, May 24, 1884
“It is evidently written by a man who knows the world. . . . The style is sufficiently lively to keep the reader wide awake. . . The more finished characters are carefully and consistently drawn.” Saturday Review, July 12, 1884
A contrasting view:
“While the book is amusing, the story is ill-constructed, and its materials of almost venerable antiquity.” Spectator, July 12, 1884
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v.1 https://archive.org/details/myducatsmydaught01hunt