[These notes were made in 1981. I read the 3-volume 1820 edition:]. The "novel" part - the misadventures of an upstart who poses as a lady (and gets away with it, for a while) in Edinburgh - is simply an excuse, a loose framework on which to hang as many slightly-veiled, often abusive portraits of Edinburgh's notables as possible. Unfortunately, obscurity caused by the passage of time throws a heavier veil over these portraits, and they are now interesting only as outlines of possible characters. There are a few exceptions: I recognized Sir Walter Scott, Lord Elgin, and Jeffrey. And I recognized "types" in the academicians, the clergy and the "toon council". In the days when it was utterly scandalous, I am sure these volumes seemed all too short to their readers. But their interest is a lot more limited now, and I found that the rancorous language and slow pace of what narrative there was made it rather heavy going.
; A Satirical Novel - Thomas Brown)
