Novel 314: Harold Frederic, Seth’s Brother’s Wife (1887)
The sons of a New York farmer turn to journalism and politics, and one of them takes an unhealthy interest in another’s wife.
For Frederic, see Novel 173.
Frederic shows “a knack of description which is clever and the reverse of wordy”; he is “a close and shrewd observer of certain human and natural phenomena.” Athenaeum, December 3, 1887
“Mr. Frederic’s novel is distinguished by its firm grasp of unhackneyed material, its realistic portraiture of life in a rural region, its repose of manner, its masterly dealing with unusual types without descent to caricature.” Literary World, December 10, 1887
“Very good indeed—simple but exceedingly workmanlike in construction, and with a really strong capable grasp of character.” Academy, December 17, 1887
“A capital story, full of point, vigour, humour, and dash.” Saturday Review, February 18, 1888
Despite the author’s inexperience, “there is no fumbling, tentative work; the author evidently knows just what he wants to do, and he does it simply and in a direct, businesslike fashion. The book has the fine finish which is characteristic of the work of the new American school of novelists, but Mr. Frederic, unlike some of his contemporaries, has provided himself with material which is worth finishing.” Spectator, February 25, 1888
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