Three courses and a dessert / The decorations by George Cruikshank. [Anon].

  • William Clarke
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Three courses and a dessert / The decorations by George Cruikshank. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The LITERARY GAZETTE, Oct. 31, 1829, observes:—“ We shall find it difficult to speak of this Volume in terms sufficiently expressive of the admiration, and, indeed, wonder, with which an examination of it has filled ust It is not only a curiosity, but a beautiful curiosity; and no less excellent in its useful qualities, than it is elegant in its decorative parts. A few years ago, all the talents in England could not have pro- duced such a work.” After describing its contents, it thus concludes:— “ But the book must be seen to be valued as it deserves; and all that we shall add is our most unreserved praise both of its ornaments of every kind, and of the very pleasing, able, and winning way, in which its Literary, Scientific, and amusing pages, are put together. A better or more captivating performance to present to a young Lady, has not been offered to the choice of parents or friends. By its perusal, and by attention to its contents, every fair and blooming reader may become what we consider the perfection of the Sex,—an accomplished English Gen- tlewoman” The SPECTATOR, Oct. 31, 1829, describes it as “ an encyclopedia d la rose. Of all the elegant introductions (continues the Reviewer) to the arcana of science, surely no path has ever yet been discovered, so flowery, so sweetly scented, so crowded with objects that beguile the weariness of the way, and cheat the passenger into making progress as The Young Lady’s Book; a work, which we do not hesitate to say, surpasses all the Annuals in its external splendour, and far superior to them in the character of its object. At the same time that it is itself a medium of general instruction in Science, it is an Actual Wonder of Art The Young Lady’s Book is not an annual—it is a perennial; the in- struction and amusement it conveys are not for one year, but for many: in short, it is admirably adapted for its object—an agreeable mode of putting a young Lady in the way of instruction by means of a handsome present.” Alluding to the Imitative Lace Lining, which forms a part of its decorations, the Editor observes: “ No eye can detect the illusion: when the fingers cannot succeed in picking it off, then, and then only, the eve consents to be convicted of error.” The ATLAS, Nov. 8, 1829, states it to be “ not an Annual, but an evergreen ; a gem in its way; containing a clear and neatly-written epitome of all those amusements that are appropriate to young Ladies, and mixing its instructions with such a pleasant versatility of attractive matter, that we have no hesitation in recommending it to the boudoir and the drawing- room.” The NEWS, of the same date, after a minute description and high approbation of its contents, concludes thus : “Ina word, whether we look on The Young Lady’s Book as it respects Art, Science, or Recreation, it stands unique from every other Publication, and, as such, must be re- ceived throughout the Literary World.” The EXAMINER, of Nov. 8, 1829, after expressing its approbation of The Young Lady’s Book, concludes thus:—“ Taken altogether, we have rarely seen a handsomer book than this Manual of Elegant Recreations, Exercises, and Pursuits.” The COURT JOURNAL, Nov. 21, 1829, expresses its opinion, that The Young Lady’s Book “ will enjoy a more permanent popularity than any of its competitors during the present Gift-giving Season;” and describes its contents and embellishments, in a style of unqualified eulogy.
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