BY BICKNELL DUDLEY OPINIONS OF THE PRESS: Brooklyn Standard-Union: A most captivating story. Buffalo Times: The story is full of dramatic situations. Pittsburgh Leader: It is a romance well worth reading. Philadelphia Call: An interesting and graphic story good for seashore, hammock or mountain. The New York World: A very charming novel of the romantic school, full of love and adventure. Albany Times: "A Gentleman from Gascony," by Bicknell Dudley, is an exciting and well-told story. The Brooklyn Citizen: The story is full of fine dramatic situations, and is never lacking in action. The author has the knack of holding the reader's attention throughout the entire story. San Francisco Chronicle: "A Gentleman from Gascony," by Bicknell Dudley, while it at once recalls our dear old friends of the "Three Musketeers," is a bright, clever, well-written and entertaining story. The book gives a graphic and vivid picture of one of the great historic epochs of France. Rochester Herald: It is a positive relief to turn from the morbid fancies of the Madame Grands and the Grant Allens to such a purely romantic love tale as "A Gentleman from Gascony," by Bicknell Dudley, which Street & Smith publish in yellow covers, while deserving of more substantial garb. The story is a formidable rival of Mr. Stanley Weyman's premier effort. Louisville Courier-Journal: It is a thoroughly readable novel that Bicknell Dudley has contributed to current literature under the title of "A Gentleman from Gascony." Although the title recalls Stanley Weyman's "Gentleman of France" and the scenes of both stories are laid in the time of Henri of Navarre, they are not alike, save in the fact that both the "Gentleman of France," and the "Gentleman from Gascony" are heroes in the fullest sense of the term from a romantic standpoint. Pittsburgh Press: Bicknell Dudley has written another story, based on French history, around the time of the St. Bartholomew massacre. It is a tale of adventure with a single hero, who embodies in himself the wile of an Aramis, the strength of a Porthos, and the gallantry of a D'Artagnan. The adventures of the Chevalier de Puycadere are, even if impossible in these days, still redolent of the times of knight errantry, when every good sword won its way and was faithful. Although he was an illustrious chevalier both in love and war, he was certainly no chevalier d'industrie, and happily comes out triumphant. The Argus, Albany, N. Y.: The hero is a young Gascon full of dash and courage, of good blood but impoverished estates, who comes to Paris to seek his fortune. This he accomplishes after many adventures, sometimes by bravado, sometimes by bravery. There is a strong love story between Gabrielle de Vrissac, a maid of honor to the Queen of Navarre, and the Gascon, Raoul de Puycadere. Many historical characters figure among them—Henri of Navarre, Marguerite de Valois, Catherine de Medicis, and Charles IX., and Admiral Coliquy. The author, Bicknell Dudley, exhibits literary ability of the very first order. Baltimore American: "A Gentleman from Gascony," by Bicknell Dudley. This is a tale of the time of Charles IX., the story opening in the year 1572. Raoul de Puycadere is of a noble family, but his possessions have been squandered by his ancestors, and he leaves for Paris to better his position at court. He arrives on the eve of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and his lady love, Gabrielle, having heard of the contemplated killing, binds a sign on his arm to protect him. By great good luck he is made equerry to the King of Navarre, and between his duties as equerry and his lovemaking passes through many exciting adventures.
|