"We do not go out of our province as horticultural journalists in
noticing a work recently issued by Mr. Gilbert, of Paternoster-row. Our
friends in the provinces will do well to study beforehand as many of the
probable incidents of their trip as possible; and, though innumerable
prints and tabular descriptions of the Exhibition Building have been
issued, we have not had anything before like a connected history of the
great project itself. The work before us is called 'A Popular Narrative
of the Origin, History, Progress, and Prospects of the Great Exhibition
of 1851; and we think the author, Mr. Berlyn, has treated his subject in
perfect accordance with the title. More than this it is quite unnecessary
to say as to the merits of the work; but we may just notice that the
'getting-up' has evidently been intrusted to careful hands. The binding
is neat and tasteful, and, besides a ground-plan, a perspective view of
the building is given."
MINING JOURNAL.
"This volume, which unostentatiously treats on the highly interesting
subjects indicated in the title, is based on records of unimpeachable
value. All speculation has been wisely avoided, and its pages present an
unvarnished history of one of the most extraordinary undertakings of
which the history of the world can boast; extraordinary in the fact of
the people of this little island challenging the people of the universe
to meet on its shores with specimens of their several productions of
industry; and extraordinary in the magnitude, decidedly novel, and
inconceivably rapid erection of the building for their reception. The
history of every similar exhibition is traced back to its source; those
of Manchester, Birmingham, London, and France are minutely recorded; the
growing interest which followed every subsequent exposition statistically
described, and every detail connected with the Royal Commission, the
arrangements, the building, future rules, throughout a space of 200
pages, and finishing with a list of the local committees, conveys a vivid
and correct picture of this vast national undertaking."
CHURCH AND STATE GAZETTE.
"A work that was wanted. It puts the public in full possession of every
iota of intelligence in connexion with the Great Exhibition worth having,
and has some very sensible remarks on the prospects of home exhibitors,
especially at the forthcoming display. It is indispensable to all
interested in the subject."
GUARDIAN.
"'A Popular Narrative of the Great Exhibition' was really needed,
explaining its whole history from its first conception in the Prince
Consort's brain, and Mr. Berlyn's book has amply supplied the need. It is
a very smart volume, and the writer is duly impressed with the grandeur
of his theme."
LEIGH HUNT'S JOURNAL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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