ON THE FIRST EDITION OF BIRDS OF PASSAGE. "The poetry of Miss Blind possesses the unusual merit of being sincerely felt, of being the almost unconscious outcome of an eager poetic nature. Few women who have attempted the art of verse have brought with them to the undertaking so wide a culture, so varied an experience, so many keen interests, or have had so rich and exceptional nature to express..... Here, for once, is verse which is at all events alive. It has the genuine poetic impulse, it has the genuine note of personal sincerity."-Athenæum. "Miss Blind is a poet who has already written much varied and powerful verse. She once more displays her lyrical skill and graceful fancy in these 'Songs.'"-Times. "A richly endowed poetic nature is here seen at its very best. It marks a distinct advance on all her past work, and it is so good that, in our judgment, it places her quite in the front rank of living lyrical poets."-Daily News. "It is a genuine pleasure to turn to Miss Mathilde Blind's 'Birds of Passage.' It contains much to charm, and will delight lovers of poetry.”—The Literary World. "Her pictures-and there are many of them in these Songs of the East and West-are as full of soul as of colour."-Yorkshire Herald. "Miss Blind's finest poetical work will be found in her new volume. 'The Tombs of the Kings' is a melodious, impressive, and in every way noble and beautiful poem. It is only one among many to which the same description is applicable."-Echo. "In her new volume Miss Blind is seen at her best."-Globe. "The songs have a charm of their own. . . . The work, as a whole, is one which every lover of poetry will read with interest and enjoyment."-Scotsman. "Like all her poetry, these songs breathe the true spirit of verse, and are full of earnest force, exquisite thoughts, passionate longings, and deep pathos."— Spinning Wheel. "Miss Blind sings in many modes-she is probably more various than any other woman-poet in English literature. ... A book that contains nothing trivial, nothing shallow, nothing that is not poetry."-Woman. "We cannot but be grateful for a book of modern verse distinguished by its cleanliness of thought no less than by the simple and deep quality of an art that is very near to nature."-Woman's Signal. "These poems have grace, delicacy, even charm. We can recall few English poems which render the curious, indeed unique, impression of the Orient, as it is rendered in some of Miss Blind's verses."— Daily Chronicle. "Miss Blind's poetical talent has reached a fine maturity in her new poems. She has a breadth and variety of view uncommon in a poetess, and a wholesome enjoyment of the goods of life."-Speaker. "Miss Blind's real poetical gift has never quite received the recognition it deserved. . . . She writes love-songs full of simple and direct passion."-Star. "Mathilde Blind must be accepted as one of the best lady-singers of the day. Her poetry is very good."-Sunday Times. "Weight of thought and fervour are the characteristics of Miss Blind's best work.... Her outlook on life is poetic."-Saturday Review. "Thoughts clothed in beautiful language are to be found in every page, and we lay down the book, which has been a real pleasure to us, in the hope that such a prolific mind may soon bring out a companion worthy of this volume, with its charming pictures of Eastern and Western life and character."-Leeds Mercury. "Miss Blind has attained a high and definite rank among English poets. She has the distinction also of being one of the very few-women poets, whether of our own time or of any other, who have made any mark in English literature. Her work in verse is considerable as well as excellent. It is of almost all kinds, from the idyllic to the dramatic, and from simple narrative to the elucidation of subtle problems of life."-Academy. |