Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), June 14, 1845, vol. 1, no. 24, p. ???-???

[page 379, column 1, continued:]

Self. By the Author of “Cecil.” New York: Harper & Brothers.

“Cecil” was one of the most popular novels ever published in England, and produced, on its first appearance, scarcely less sensation than “Vivian Grey,” or “Pelham,” to both which, however, it has a strong family resemblance. It has more spirit — more dash — more abandon — and infinitely more impudence than either: taking qualities, all of these, with the public. Its learning, too, was seemingly prodigious, and it was difficult (for this and other reasons) to believe it the work of a woman. Mrs. Gore was, nevertheless, well understood to be the author — although it has been asserted that she received aid, in the bespicing of the book with scraps of pedantry, from a well-known scholar and littérateur of London. This we do [column 2:] not believe — nor is there any sufficient reason for believing it. In the first place, bad any such aid been given, it must have been given after the composition by Mrs. Gore, and traces of interpolation would have inevitably remained: — none such are apparent. In the second place, all the former productions of the authoress evince the same species of apparent erudition — an erudition which is only apparent, and carefully introduced to serve a purpose. True erudition is only certainly discoverable in its entire results. There is nothing in anything written by Mrs. Gore, which is not within the reach of any decently educated person of ingenuity, having access to the large libraries of London. The same thing may be said even of that remarkable work, “The Doctor,” and of a great many other similar publications.

“Self” has all the principal traits of “Cecil,” and is, perhaps, a more entertaining book upon the whole — although its subject does not offer so many facilities. We recommend it heartily to all persons troubled with ennui.