“The author designates his book a novel, but he would be better justified in calling it a novel once or twice removed.”
“The author, having arranged his pieces and set his problems, having made sundry moves as if he were going to play the game according to the rules, finally falls back on an act of God for his solution, which leaves the whole business where it began.”
− =N. Y. Times.= 12: 139. Mr. 9, ’07. 570w.
=N. Y. Times.= 12: 379. Je. 15, ’07. 180w.
“While there are many homely scenes sufficiently true to life in this tale ... it lacks grace, and fails to awaken complete sympathy for the somewhat ordinary young preacher.”
− − + =Outlook.= 86: 340. Je. 15, ’07. 110w.
=Collings, Jesse.= Land reform, occupying ownership, peasant proprietary, and rural education. *$4.20. Longmans.
This volume by “the well-known supporter of Mr. Chamberlain and president of the Rural laborers’ league ... opens with a discussion of the principles of the purchase of land bills, introduced into the house of commons by the author two years ago. Next follow seven excellent chapters containing a fairly full history of the origin and growth of the present English land system, and particularly of the gradual disappearance of peasant proprietorship. Lastly, a third division of nine chapters sets forth the arguments for and against the various proposals which have been made for the revival of British agriculture and the encouragement of small holdings.”—Nation.
“Mr. Jesse Collings will carry a larger public with him in his attempt to supply material for a history of the land question, from the point of view of the occupying owner, than he will in his definite proposals.”
+ =Lond. Times.= 5: 270. Ag. 3, ’06. 1420w.
“A book of which certain parts are extremely interesting, though they appear in somewhat confused array.”
“Those who are interested in the problem of English land tenure, whether they agree with Mr. Collings in his main contention or not, will find his book instructive; those who are interested in rural education will find it suggestive, and all who are interested in social and economic problems should find it worth reading.” Henry C. Taylor.
“Ought to have been wholly authoritative, and yet throughout must be read with caution.”