Irving, Washington - Alexander Hill Everett (essay date 1829)
Alexander Hill Everett (essay date 1829)
SOURCE: Review of Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, in North American Review, Vol. 28, January, 1829, pp. 103-34.
[In the following review, Everett compares A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus to Irving's earlier works, describing his skill as a writer of humor, satire, and history.]
This is one of those works, which are at the same time the delight of readers and the despair of critics. It is as nearly perfect in its kind, as any work well can be; and there is therefore little or nothing left for the reviewer, but to write at the bottom of every page, as Voltaire said he should be obliged to do, if he published a commentary on Racine, Pulchrè! bene! optimè! And as the reputation of the author is so well established, that he does not stand in need of our recommendation as a passport to the public favor, it may appear, and in fact is, almost...
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