From The Persephone Biannually Autumn & Winter 2007 No. 2

'I read The Blank Wall in a matter of hours and felt myself holding my breath much of the way through, as I was never certain what was going to happen next. Elisabeth Sanxay Holding imbues the text with much social commentary – including the role of women, class, race and educational background – but this never feels heavy. Indeed, it’s the opposite: effortless and seamless. A wholly gratifying and pleasurable read.’ Kimbofo.typepad.com

‘Family Roundabout contains some very acute observations about life, love, and what makes a good mother, and at the same time is a really meaty family saga. All in all it is a most enjoyable, comfortable book, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.’ Reading-rantingrecipes.blogspot.com

‘I loved House-Bound, The Shuttle and Alas, Poor Lady. What moving accounts they each give of the ghastly position of women who were financially dependent and so ill-prepared for their lives. It really makes one understand and value the work of the suffragettes and those who campaigned for decent education for women and birth control. The portrayal of Grace in Alas, Poor Lady brought tears to my eyes. As always, your books are so absorbing and thought- provoking.’ SW, Dublin 14

‘It is true that Saplings is not a happy book in many ways: the slow destruction of a happy family is not a cheerful topic. This, however, is a beautifully written novel, very readable, with fabulous characters, realistic, often flawed. I loved every page of this book.’ Heaven-ali.livejournal.com

‘Someone at a Distance’s story of a husband-seduced-by-a- woman-scorned, leaving a very happy family in tatters, seduces us. I found myself staying up all hours of the night to whip through the book in record time. And Ellen, the wife left behind, became a special friend. One I hated to leave at the end. Whipple makes her characters come alive. She also leaves you with hope and redemption. I highly recommend it.’ Beccaandbella.typepad.com

‘Having read E M Delafield's short story in the Autumn 2006 PQ I decided to order a copy of Consequences. I am delighted that I did so as I am now well into it and enjoying it immensely: I would rate it among my favourites of the Persephone
novels I have read so far. Although poor Alex is to a large extent the author of her own misfortunes, her life could have been so much richer outside the rigid confines of Victorian society. E M Delafield's anger with this society's effect on women comes across clearly in her writing.’ JC, Bray, Co. Wicklow

‘The stories in Good Evening, Mrs Craven are gems. Each is no more than a few pages long, and all of them are funny, sharp and entertaining. The stories progress chronologically through the war years, providing trenchant observations about domestic life, relationships and the increasing hardships faced by those on the home front; they are just as legitimate a form of reportage as any non-fiction article and would make wonderful examples for new writers about how to use language and description with economy and elegance.’ Abookaweek.blogspot.com

‘The Expendable Man takes on an extra layer of interest, surprise, and shock because of a key fact that Dorothy Hughes reveals only after 70-odd pages. It is to her credit that this revelation doesn't come off as being at all gimmicky, and in fact is brilliantly done, by way of an almost throwaway comment. I'd recommend this remarkable book even if you're not really interested in thrillers or suspense novels per se – it’s also a fine ‘straight’ novel, which has important things to say about 1950s American society and, indeed, about our own attitudes.’ Livejournal.com/ toomanybooks/scarletslippers