The Prince of Wales's Garden Party, by Mrs. J.H. Riddell, in one volume (Chatto and Windus), resolves itself into seven short stories, the first one giving the title to the book. This must be necessarily a disappointment to the readers of Mrs. Riddell's novels, who look forward with such pleasure to each succeeding one, that to find the present volume cut up into novelettes is rather a trial. However, the slight material on which the stories are founded, brings into play that decided power which Mrs. Riddell possesses—namely, making much of very little, and in several instances in the volume under notice this gift is very marked. We specially note in the first story the meeting of the long separated and faithful lovers, which is admirably sketched, the rather long and unnecessary, but very realistic description of a quaint seaside-place, recalling one or two nooks which still exist untouched by the hand of the speculator or the mass, the finding of Lady Dugdale's diamonds, and the sketch of Mrs. Donald, as being the most salient points in the present work.

Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2254—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, July 15, 1882, p.71