Reviews upon publication were mixed, some critics made comments such as "lamentably weak", "disappointing", "the story becomes intolerable", "poor story, slovenly construction, flaccid dialogue" while others said "excellent", "interesting enough", and "better worth reading than any other novel we have seen this year" [REF].
Time Magazine said "[T]he book is rather a mediocre feat for the celebrated scorner of average men, literary grace, Pulitzer Prizes.