(Published 1911)
Daily News.—"Miss Gardner's able study... Lovers ofthe heroic in history will be grateful to Miss Gardner for her accountof this noble enthusiast." (Rest of review, of more than a column,analysing the matter of the book.)
Scotsman.—"So little is known in this country about Polishliterati that a book which tells the moving story of the greatestamong the poets of Poland is sure of a welcome from studentreaders. The present interesting volume—while it is instructivein no small measure as to the scope and character of Mickiewicz'spoetry and literary work—draws so lively a picture of the persecutionsand sufferings and of the unconquered spirit of the poetthat its human interest easily overbears mere questions of literature. ...The work, at once discriminating and enthusiastic,will warmly interest all sympathetic students of Slavonic popularliterature." (Rest of review analyses matter of the book.)
Westminster Gazette.—"Miss Gardner tells the story withexcellent insight and sympathy. ... The author's description ofthe four parts of this poem gives a vivid idea of its far-reachingscope, its passionate energy, and intensity of patriotism." (Restof review, three-quarters of a column, analyses matter of book.)
Birmingham Daily Post.—"We are very glad to see thatMiss Gardner has at last produced a well-documented and impassionedstudy of the life and achievements of Mickiewicz. ...Miss Gardner has done a fine and useful piece of work." (Restof review, a column, analysis of matter of book, and callingattention to the importance of work upon Poland.)
Manchester Guardian.—"Miss Gardner, a devoted and accomplishedstudent of Polish literature, has performed a considerableservice in making better known the life and work of the mostfamous of Polish poets. ... His pathetic story is told in greatdetail and with deep sympathy by Miss Gardner. ... Some ofher prose renderings are of great beauty—often with the wild andwayward beauty which we associate with Chopin." (Rest ofreview, three-quarters of a column, analysis of matter of book.)
New Age.—"A real work of love, honest and thorough." (Restof review, of about a column, analysis of matter of the book.)
[2]Cambridge Review.—"Miss Gardner... gives us a remarkablytrue picture of the relations between the poet and his country....Miss Gardner has realized fully what she attempted, andindeed few countrymen of the poet could perform the task better."
Bulletin Polonais.—"Une étude biographique et littéraire trèssubstantielle, très bien documentée, conçue très methodiquementet écrite avec beaucoup de charme et de clarté. ... C'està notre connaissance le premier livre anglais qui traite avec tantd'ampleur et tant de conscience une question d'histoire littérairepolonaise. Nous espèrons que Mile. Gardner ne se bomera pasà ce brillant coup d'essai."
Academy.—"Miss Gardner has done a real service." (The restof a very long and sympathetic review is an analysis of the matterof the book.)
Tablet.—"In these days, when the reader is embarrassed bythe abundance of books that are not wanted... it is well tomeet with a work at once so necessary and so well done. ...When great poetry has waited so long for appreciation, and a storyfull of interest has been left untold, we might welcome any attemptto supply the deficiency. But in this case the work is so admirablydone that it would be welcome, though we had other biographiesor critical appreciations of the Polish poet. This remarkablework... Apart from the purely biographical interest, which isof a high