Jane West

[anon.] A Gossip's Story, and a Legendary Tale. 2 vols.

London: T. Longman, 1796; 4th ed., 1799

 

Contemporary Reviews

 

The Monthly Review. Vol. 22. 1797:92.

Art. 20. A Gossip's Story, and a Legendary Tale, by the Author of Advantages of Elocution [sic]. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. sewed. Longman. 1796.

The Legendary Tale, having very little connexion with the chief subject of these volumes, might as well have been omitted; since, though far from uninteresting, it is enfeebled by it's length, and is deficient in that correctness without which middling poetry is much inferior to indifferent prose. We can, however, recommend the Story as uniting to a great degree of interest the rarer qualities of good sense and an accurate knowledge of mankind. The grammatical errors and vulgarisms, which disgrace many even of our most celebrated novels, have here no place; and several of the shorter poetical pieces interspersed through the work have very considerable merit. Amusement is combined with utility, and fiction is enlisted in the cause of virtue and practical philosophy.

The English Review. Vol. 28. 1796:480-481.

Art. XXI. A Gossip's Story and a Legendary Tale. In Two Volumes. By the Author of Advantages of Education. Pp. 451. 12mo. Longman. London, 1796.

The Gossip's Story before us is well told, and is a most excellent lesson of morality, delivered in a history of Mr Dudley and his two daughters, Louisa and Marianne. The evil attendant on yielding to a romantic turn of mind, is shewn, in striking colours, in the character of Marianne, who refuses the addresses of an amiable man, because he does not render himself ridiculous by acting the whining lover. Louisa, by adhering to the principles of duty and plain sense, attains the reward of virtue by becoming the wife of the man whom her sister has refused. Marianne marries also; but is led, by an affected sensibility, into many errors, which terminate in the indifference of her husband, and her own unhappiness.

Extracts

The Character of Marianne

In her character I wish to exhibit the portrait of an amiable and ingenuous mind, solicitous to excel, and desirous to be happy, but destitute of natural vigour, or acquired stability; forming to itself a romantic standard, to which nothing human ever attained; perplexed by imaginary difficulties; sinking under fancied evils; destroying its [481] own peace by the very means which it takes to secure it; and acting with a degree of folly beneath the common level, through its desire of aspiring above the usual limits of female excellence.

MR Dudley's Sentiments respecting the Duty of a Wife

'You asked me if the name of wife and friend are incompatible. Certainly not. They are titles which mutually reflect lustre on each other; and I have ever considered that young woman as particularly fortunate, who had secured the esteem of some discreet matron, and regulated her conduct by the dictates of experience. I must, however, repeat, that a wife should retain no connexions which her husband decidedly disapproves. A prudent woman, indeed, will never form any which can give pain to a reasonable man. She will choose her friends with judgment, confide in them with caution, and love them with sincerity, yet still with moderation. You may think these limitations cold and narrow: they are such as you ought always to regard.'

________

This is only a short sketch of the many excellencies with which these volumes abound. We recommend them to the perusal of all ladies who wish to become good wives and mothers. The style, too, is charming.

The Monthly Mirror. Vol. 2. 1796:418-419.

A Gossip's Story, and a Legendary Tale. By the Author of Advantages of Education. 2 vols. 12mo. Longman, 1796.

'The following pages are intended, under the disguise of an artless history, to illustrate the advantages of CONSISTENCY, FORTITUDE, and the DOMESTIC VIRTUES; and to expose to ridicule, CAPRICE, AFFECTED sensibility, and an idle censorious humour.' This intention is extremely well executed: - the characteristics just enumerated are exemplified in the conduct of two sisters of very opposite feelings and dispositions, Louisa and Marianne Dudley; and in the movements of a female club, supposed to be established near the place of their residence.

We have read these volumes with more than ordinary satisfaction; the style is simple and unaffected; the story, though not abounding with intricacies of plot, variety of incidents, and hyperbolical contrasts of happiness and distress, is conducted with sufficient ingenuity to occupy the attention, and interest the reader in behalf of the leading characters. The writer has been guided by the principles of just taste, as well in the choice of language as in the preservation of character. 'The fair enthusiast who indulges in all the extravagance of heroic generosity, romantic love, and exuberant friendship,' forming her estimate of real life from the exaggerations of romance, is drawn with the happiest success. In an age of sentiment, i.e. false senti-[419]ment, the novelist who will put the reader on his guard against that 'bane of social life,' merits no inconsiderable praise. The story conveys a very useful and important lesson; and the piety that pervades the whole is highly honourable to the author's principles.

The Legendary Tale is interesting, and written with the requisite simplicity; but much too long. The smaller Poems possess very superior merit, which the following sonnet will testify. - Vide vol. II. Page 142.

SONNET

Her hair dishevel'd, and her robe unty'd,
Cassandra rush'd amongst the festal train.
What time young Paris sang his nuptial strain,
And led to Priam's roof the Spartan bride:
Of certain woes that must that crime betide,
The holy virgin prophesied in vain;
Her warning voice could no attention gain,
'Till Pyrrhus level'd Ilium's tow'ring pride.
Ah! In the horrors of that night aghast,
What shrieks, prophetic maid, thy truth declar'd?
And thus when youth beholds Misfortune's blast:
O'erturn the fairy bow'rs by Fancy rear'd,
Too late it muses on the precepts sage
of cool experience, and predictive age.

The Monthly Magazine and British Register. Vol. 4. 1797:121.

A substantial wholesome cold collation has been provided for [readers of Novels] by the sensible and correct author of 'A Gossip's Story.' [extract from review of multiple works].

The Monthly Magazine and British Register. Vol. 4. 1797:518.

Among the vast number of novels and romances which 'crowed upon our sight,' may be selected as a work of instruction and entertainment, 'A Gossip's Story and a Legendary Tale.' [extract from review of multiple works].


- Prepared by Kristen A. Elias, University of Nebraska, December 2002.