“Miss Radclyffe-Hall has an exceptional gift for enshrining a single thought or fancy in a little lyric or a song. The little pieces ... most of them catch a real thought, and sometimes—as in “A Reflection”—one which makes the reader pause and meditate. Many of her pieces seem to have been put to music, and they deserve it.”—The Times, October 6th, 1910.
“Miss Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall is already known to many readers as the author of some sweet and dainty verses. Her latest book should widen the circle of those acquainted with her work, for it shows her once more as a tender singer of the spells of love, the beauty of Nature. There is in many of her poems a wistfulness that is of beauty rather than of sadness, while her power of expressing her moods and thoughts in simple and melodious rhythms is, perhaps, more markedly shown here than in her earlier work. Here is a haunting little piece from a trio of ‘Stuart Songs’ (quotation). Part of the charm of this lies no doubt in the trick of refrain, but, with her few simply chosen words, the writer has suggested much of tenderness and tragedy. Many of the pieces seem to have been written with a view to musical setting, and express a mood, a sentiment, in tuneful fashion, and with a note of true sincerity. Here is a beautiful picture, ‘In Liguria’” (quotation).—Daily Telegraph, November 16th, 1910.
“Poems of the Past and Present, notwithstanding their number, maintain a standard consistently high. Fastidious workmanship, and an instinct towards poetical grace in language and rhythm, are, apart from inspiration, the two essentials for the writing of lyrics; and the volume possesses both in a marked degree, besides an appreciable share of the rarer quality. Though the personal note is seldom absent, and the dominance of love as a theme makes more than ever for monotony nowadays, these potential drawbacks are to a great extent redeemed by the freshness and fancy which go to the painting of, among many others, such a haunting little picture as the following from ‘In Liguria’ (quotation). With her power of delicate visualization, her keen sense of colour and music, and a technique almost flawless, the author should, as her poetical horizon broadens, produce valuable results.”—The Athenæum, December 3rd, 1910.
“One meets with many excellent lyrics scattered through the pages. What is characteristic of the best of them, which are to be found among the unrhymed verses, is a certain Southern, almost Oriental atmosphere, like the scent at dawn of those strange blossoms of which she sings. This is the appropriate setting, sometimes of a happy licence of imagination, in a set of verses which will repay perusal by a reader of poetic sympathies.”—The Scotsman, October 13th, 1910.
“A poetess with a very charming gift ... her little book should have a great vogue as a Christmas gift-book.”—Daily Express, July 7th, 1910.
“Miss Radclyffe-Hall is facile, flowing, and often really musical; it is not surprising that so many of her verses have been used by composers. Such a lyric as ‘A Farewell,’ calls aloud for setting.”—Pall Mall Gazette, December 2nd, 1910.
“Many fair and gentle thoughts are gracefully expressed by Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall. Especially charming are the lyrics in the song sequence, ‘Fruit of the Nispero,’ and the three little ‘Stuart Songs’ of Mary the Queen.”—The Lady, December 29th, 1910.
“There are a great many poems in this little volume, all showing evidence of considerable facility and talent.”—Evening Standard, September 22nd, 1910.
“A book of verse that appeared lately, by Miss Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall, will, I know, delight you, for it is written with true poetical feeling, and touches on so many subjects besides that of love, that it is sure to please the taste of many and various readers. Amongst the poems that I recommend to your notice are ‘An Italian Garden,’ ‘A Sonnet to Elizabeth Barrett Browning,’ which breathes a deep and reverential appreciation of our great poetess’s worth, ‘The Voice,’ and several numbers in a series called ‘Fruit of the Nispero.’ It is easy to imagine that many of these tuneful numbers should have been set to music, for there are in them such tender harmonies as must appeal to musical people.”—The Lady, November 17th, 1910.
“Her volume is full of pearls; they are to be gathered from every page, and sometimes they are very brilliant. ‘The Hills of By and Bye,’ ‘Before Sunrise,’ ‘A Little Child,’ ‘In Liguria,’ and others are beautiful poems; and ‘The Graveyard at Orotava’ is based on an exquisitely poetic sentiment, the last two verses showing a high quality of imaginative power. Miss Radclyffe-Hall’s style is individual and remarkable for combined force and clarity. Very few living women poets are at all her equal.”—Sussex Daily News, October 26th, 1910.
“This is a book of really good verse. All its ‘small songs’ are musical and delicate, but in addition it has the rarer virtue of complete sincerity.... There is no striving after effect by phrase or artifice. Every lyric is the simple melodious expression of a poetic thought.”—Evening News, October 19th, 1910.
“Miss Radclyffe-Hall’s latest book should widen the circle of those acquainted with her work, for it shows her once more as a tender singer of the spells of love, the beauty of Nature.”—Liverpool Express, November 22nd, 1910.
“Many of her pieces are just adapted to musical setting, for they express a mood, a sentiment, a graceful fancy, with a note of real sincerity.”—Christian Endeavour Times, December 22nd, 1910.