He said that she was a writer of great concentration and a sharp critic of her society . He called her `` radiant and remorseless '' , `` dispassionate yet pitiless '' , with `` the steely quality , the incurable rigor of her judgment '' . Farrer denied that Austen 's artistry was unconscious ( contradicting James ) and described her as a writer of intense concentration and a severe critic of her society , `` radiant and remorseless '' , `` dispassionate yet pitiless '' , with `` the steely quality , the incurable rigor of her judgment '' .