AustLit

'...is described on the title page as a realistic and sensational story of Australian mining life, dedicated to Miss Alice Cornwall, the "first Australian lady miner", who name has come so prominently forward in London lately...The present story is rather good of its kind...and there are descriptive sketches of Melbourne life and character which are strongly reminiscent of Dickens, particularly in the portion relating to the Wopples family of dramatic artists, who strongly resemble the family circle of the late Mr Vincent Crummles. Madame Midas is a lady whose successes at Ballarat have procured her the name by which she is known to the reader of this story, which is quite good enough to occupy an idle half-hour.'