A melancholy story of middle-class life, with many truthful touches, but overcharged with a sentiment that to modern taste appears somewhat strained and somewhat insipid. Contains a highly eulogistic portrait of a dissenting minister, John Sinclair—Calvinistic, didactic, but warm-hearted and truly charitable. ⸺ TALES AND SKETCHES OF IRISH LIFE AND CHARACTER. (DUBLIN). Plates by Phiz. 1845. This is the original 1_s._ edition of the following and _Amusing Irish Tales_, _ante_. ⸺ TALES AND SKETCHES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY. 1851. Is as good as the _Traits_, and has, moreover, little that is objectionable. ⸺ THE SQUANDERS OF CASTLE SQUANDER. [1852]. Two Vols. Pp. 326 + 311. Illustr. An attempt to present the life of the gentry, a task for which Carleton was imperfectly qualified. “It reminds one,” says Mr. O’Donoghue, “at a superficial examination, of Lever, but is far inferior to any of that writer’s works. It is full of rancour and rage, and makes painful and exasperating reading: the best that can be said for it is that there are pages here and there not unworthy of the Author’s better self. The latter part of the book is an acrid political argument.” There is an amusing story of a trick played upon a gauger. ⸺ WILLY REILLY AND HIS DEAR COLLEEN BAWN. (_Duffy_). 2_s._ [1855]. 1908. Introduction by E. A. Baker, M.A., LL.D., who included this in his series, “Half-Forgotten Books.” (_Routledge_). 2_s._ 1904. The most popular of Carleton’s works, having passed through more than fifty large editions. A pleasant, readable romantic melodrama, founded on the famous ballad, “Now rise up, Willy Reilly,” which refers to an episode of the Penal days, _c._ 1745-52. It is practically free from political and religious bias, but is greatly inferior to his earlier works. ⸺ THE BLACK BARONET. Pp. 476, close print. (_Duffy_). 2_s._ [1856]. Still reprinted. A tragedy of upper-class society life. The interest lies chiefly in the intricate plot, which, however, is distinctly melodramatic. There is little attempt to portray the manners of the society about which the book treats, and there is little character-drawing. The tragedy is relieved by humorous scenes from peasant life. In the Preface the Author tells us that the circumstances related in the story really happened. Contains a touching picture of an evicted tenant, who leaves the hut in which his wife lies dead and his children fever-stricken to seek subsistence by a life of crime. “There is nothing,” says G. Barnett Smith in THE XIXTH. CENTURY (Author of notice of C. in D.N.B.), “more dramatic in the whole of Carleton’s works than the closing scene of this novel.” And he rates it very high. ⸺ THE EVIL EYE; or, the Black Spectre. (_Duffy_). 2_s._ [1860]. Still reprinted.