“His highest achievement, as yet, in the realms of fiction. The work has
two distinct merits, either of which would serve to make it great,--that
of telling a perfect story in a perfect way, and of giving a graphic
picture of Roman society in the last days of the Pope’s temporal
power.... The story is exquisitely told.”--_Boston Traveller._
“One of the most engrossing novels we have ever read.”--_Boston Times._