NOTICES BY THE PRESS OF

“THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE LATE

REV.  F.W.  ROBERTSON.”

[THE SPECTATOR.]

“No book published since the ‘Life of Dr. Arnold’ has produced so strong an impression on the moral imagination and spiritual theology of England as we may expect from these volumes.  Even for those who knew Mr. Robertson well, and for many who knew him, as they thought, better than his Sermons, the free and full discussion of the highest subjects in the familiar letters so admirably selected by the Editor of Mr. Robertson’s Life, will give a far clearer insight into his remarkable character and inspire a deeper respect for his clear and manly intellect.  Mr. Brooke has done his work as Dr. Stanley did his in writing the ‘Life of Arnold,’ and it is not possible to give higher praise....  Everyone will talk of Mr. Robertson, and no one of Mr. Brooke, because Mr. Brooke has thought much of his subject, nothing of himself, and hence the figure which he wished to present comes out quite clear and keen, without any interposing haze of literary vapour.”

 [THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.]

“The Life of Robertson of Brighton supplies a very unique illustration of the way in which a man may attain his highest fame after he has passed away from earth.  There are few who make any pretension to an acquaintance with modern literature who do not know something of Mr. Robertson’s works.  His sermons are indisputably ranked with the highest sacred classics....  The publication of his ‘Life and Letters’ helps us to some information which is very precious, and explains much mystery that hangs around the name of the great Brighton preacher.  It will be generally admitted that these two volumes will furnish means for estimating the character of Mr. Robertson which are not supplied in any or all of his published works....  There was no artificiality or show about the pulpit production, no half-utterances or whispers of solemn belief; but there was the natural restraint which would be imposed by a true gentleman upon his words when speaking to mixed congregations.  Many of us wanted to know how he talked and wrote when the restraint was removed.  This privilege is granted to us in these volumes....  There was no romance of scene and circumstance in the life of Frederick Robertson; but there was more than romance about the real life of the man.  In some respects it was like the life of a new Elijah....  A more thoughtful, suggestive, and beautiful preacher never entered a pulpit; a simpler and braver man never lived; a truer Christian never adorned any religious community.  His life and death were vicarious, as he himself might have put it.  He lived and died for others, for us all.  The sorrows and agonies of his heart pressed rare music out of it, and the experience of a terribly bitter life leaves a wealth of thought and reflection never more than equalled in the history of men.”

 [THE GUARDIAN.]