SOURCE: "Mrs. Norton," in Temple Bar, Vol. LII, No. I, January, 1878, pp. 101-10.

In this excerpt, the unsigned critic discusses Norton's poetry and prose, complimenting her style and arguing that her subject matter is dismal and depressing.

It may be assumed that in social life, where [Caroline Norton] met and favourably impressed the most eminent men of the country—statesmen, artists, men of letters, who were sure to be found enthusiastically grouped around her, or in deep, private conference in a corner of the room, was the most successful sphere of her existence. There is a short piece in The Dream volume called "The Winter's Walk" (written after walking with Mr. Rogers), which shows the sympathetic and confidential intimacy which she was able to maintain, no doubt much aided by "the deep, sweet contralto" and dazzling and penetrating glances. She describes Rogers's talk:

Many an anecdote of other...