From the Constitution (Middletown, Ct.)

“A book of great interest and spirit, and one that brings out, in a strong light, some peculiar traits of American character.”

From the Critic.

“An unusually well-written and interesting book.”

From the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette.

“There is a deal of promise in a new novel just out called ’GEORGE MELVILLE.’  It is a dashing, clever, well-written story; its characters talk with animation and plenty of animal spirit, and ’the plot converges to an issue’ according to the most approved rules.  It has the American Stamp, and imitates no transatlantic author—­a merit worth noticing.”

From the New York Sunday Times.

“Its style is graphic, careless, romping and fanciful, and it is really captivating.”

From the Albany Evening Journal.

“The style is lively; the dialogues frequent and effective; the graver scenes well drawn and the book wholly what it purports to be—­an American Novel, characteristically descriptive of American Life.”

From the New York Sunday Mercury.

“A book that will repay the reader for the time spent in its perusal.  A pleasant companion for Saratoga, or the sea-shore.”

From the Educational Herald.

“Its descriptions and pictures are very graphic.”

The following notice from the Toledo Blade, is so just and true that we copy it entire: 

“We had almost said, after reading this story, ’The good old days of Cooper have come again.’  It is really refreshing, in the midst of so much literary pretension, to meet with something of real merit.

“The conception of the plot is admirable—­the characters finely portrayed—­the scenery true to nature and the interest maintained throughout.  Its life-like pictures, as well as the style of its author must commend it to every one who feels any interest in the revival of a genuine, home-bred American literature.  When such tales as this reflecting on our own manners, scenery, morals and laws can be produced, there is little reason that our fiction-writers should be superseded by foreigners.  A tale of equal merit with this, so neatly told, so entirely American, has not of late been issued from the press.

“The scenery of Central New York—­a sail on the placid waters of Cayuga Lake in summer, and across the ice which covers it in winter—­the picturesque views around Auburn and the grand sublimity of Niagara, are alike portrayed in vivid characters.

“Character is as well delineated as scenery.  Dark and light shades—­gay and corrupt life—­vanity, vice and virtue, all perform their appropriate parts, in making up a goodly number of men and women, who once fairly introduced, carry themselves very naturally through plot and counter plot, to the close of a story which aptly illustrates the elements composing American society, in its various phases.  There are many such victims as Melville, and many such true hearted girls as Bell Mortimer.