["Mothering Sunday"] is told with a deft and economical hand. Precisely chosen conversational tidbits and natural actions are used in place of descriptive passages to build tremendous suspense for the family meeting. Where simple descriptions are used they are terse and pungent….

The beauty of this fine tale lies in the fact that the reader is allowed to know the members of the family intimately before the meeting and is thus prepared for and anxious to see their reactions to each other. The book is a feast of characterization.

Peter J. McDonnell, "Mother Knows Best," in The New York Times Book Review (© 1950 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), February 26, 1950, p. 34.