Page "Ebenezer Elliott" Paragraph 33

An article by Thomas Carlyle in the Edinburgh Review ( July 1832 ) is the best criticism on Elliott.

Carlyle was attracted by Elliott's homely sincerity and genuine power, though he had small opinion of his political philosophy, and lamented his lack of humour and of the sense of proportion.

He thought his poetry too imitative, detecting not only the truthful severity of Crabbe, but a slight bravura dash of the fair tuneful Hemans.

His descriptions of his native county reveal close observation and a vivid perception of natural beauty.