Literary reviews by Gerald Massey

published in the: 

(1) ATHENÆUM

The Athenæum was a widely read literary and scientific periodical, published between 1828 and 1923.  It grew to become one of the most influential periodicals of the Victorian period ― eventually metamorphosing into The New Statesman ― and is regarded by historians as a mirror of its times, containing reviews, articles, essays, reports of learnèd societies and news from the scientific and political worlds.

    As was the convention at the time, reviews were published anonymously; however, City University, London, holds the original editors' marked copies of the bound volumes, making it possible to determine the identity of the anonymous contributors, many of whom were well-known literary figures of the day including Massey, some of whose reviews we have reproduced below (see text box).

    For further information see the Athenæum Project at City University, London, UK.

    William Hepworth Dixon, Editor of the Athenæum (1853-69), was instrumental in first bringing the twenty-six year old Massey to public attention.  In his review of The Ballad of Babe Christabel: together with other Lyrical Poems, Dixon expressed his opinion of Massey thus......

"...A man whose ear — though not yet tuned to the complete and glorious harmonies of our English tongue — is sensitive to rhythm . . . whose imagination throws out images in sonorous words . . . so that sound and image seem identical... He is a true poet, — but he has grievous defects ... he lacks culture. He requires taste. His ear is defective. (Yet), our workman-poet has become a teacher to his class. He speaks to them in passion - counsels, exhorts, inspires them with his own vehement and vigorous spirit ... many a line suggests - and many an image vivifies - the idea of a vast social revolution as that which appears to him the natural and inevitable path of issue into a better state."

Dixon was later to offer Massey much needed employment as a literary critic to the Journal.

    Historian and traveller, born near Manchester, Dixon moved to London in 1846 where he became connected with The Daily News for which he wrote articles on social and prison reform.  In 1850 he published "John Howard and the Prison World of Europe", which had a wide circulation, and in 1851 wrote a "Life of Peace" in answer to Macaulay's onslaught.  Lives of Admiral Blake and Lord Bacon followed, which received somewhat severe criticisms at the hands of competent authorities.

    Besides editing The Athenæum, Dixon wrote many books of travel, including "The Holy Land" (1865), "New America" (1867), and "Free Russia" (1870).  His later historical works include "Her Majesty's Tower", and "The History of Two Queens" (Catherine of Arragon and Anne Boleyn).  Though a diligent student of original authorities, and sometimes successful in throwing fresh light on his subjects, Dixon was not always accurate, and thus laid himself open to criticism; and his book, "Spiritual Wives", treating of Mormonism, was so adversely criticised as to lead to an action.  He wrote, however, in a fresh and interesting style.  He also served in public office as a deputy commissioner for the Great Exhibition 1851, Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster, was one of the founders of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and was a member of the first School Board for London (1870).  Dixon was called to the Bar in 1854, but never practised.

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(2) THE EDINBURGH NEWS

    Early in 1855 Massey moved to Edinburgh, where he took up an editorial position on the Edinburgh News.  However, by 1858  increasing competition between the Edinburgh newspapers forced  the proprietor to reduce his expenses.  Massey was made redundant and returned to England with his family.

Tennyson's New Volume of Poetry (July 1855).

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(3) Lucifer, Vol. I, November 1887.

An essay-like review by Massey of The Blood-Covenant, a Primitive Rite, and its bearings on Scripture, by H. Clay Turnbull, DD. (London, Redway, 1887).