CRITICISM

Boland, Maura. “Fool's Sanctuary: No Peace in Ireland.” Chicago Tribune (18 January 1988): section 5, p. 3.

Boland commends the well-composed dialogue in Fool's Sanctuary, but argues that Johnston's lack of popular success may be due to her detached tone.

Dooley, Susan. “A Sad Story of Ireland's Divided House.” Washington Post Book World (24 January 1988): 10.

Dooley offers a positive assessment of Fool's Sanctuary.

Hemingway, Lorian. “A Woman's Hall of Horrors.” Washington Post Book World (26 August 1993): C3.

Hemingway, author and granddaughter of famed novelist Ernest Hemingway, offers a laudatory assessment of The Invisible Worm, calling it “a novel rare as snow in summer.”

Hogan, Desmond. “City of Visions.” New Statesman (10 October 1980): 23.

Hogan offers a negative assessment of The Old Jest, calling the novel “unconvincing.”

Ingoldby, Grace. “Spook Time.” New Statesman (25 October 1984): 31.

Ingoldby offers a positive assessment of The Railway Station Man.

Johnston, Jennifer with Eleanor Wachtel. “Jennifer Johnston Interviewed by Eleanor Wachtel.” Queens Quarterly 104, No. 2 (Summer 1997): 319–29.

Johnston discusses her family background, Irish history, and The Illusionist.

Kenny, John. “Big Houses, Little Pieces.” Times Literary Supplement, No. 5056 (17 December 1999): 20.

A review of The Essential Jennifer Johnston, in which Kenny argues that Johnson's shorter and more minimal works are often her strongest.

O'Faolain, Julia. “An Airborne Charm.” Times Literary Supplement, No. 4823 (8 September 1995): 5.

O'Faolain offers a positive review of The Illusionist, describing Johnston's prose as being full of “wit, resource and an adventurous eye.”

Shrimpton, Nicholas. “Womb's Eye.” New Statesman 98, No. 2536 (26 October 1979): 643–44.

Shrimpton offers a negative assessment of The Old Jest.

Additional coverage of Johnston's life and career is contained in the following sources published by the Gale Group: Contemporary Authors, Vols. 85–88; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vol. 92; Contemporary Novelists; Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 14; and Literature Resource Center.