Publisher's Synopsis
Miss Braddon has written her thirty-fifth novel, "The Cloven Foot." Time was when the publication of a novel by Miss Braddon was quite an event in literature; for while everybody pronounced her stories naughty, everybody religiously read them. But since then novel readers have multiplied tenfold, and the number of writers who produce novels has also increased tenfold. Now the tone of many of Miss Braddon's fictions be in anywise commended, but she is unquestionably one of the most cannot readable of authors. Even with regard to the present story, although we knew as well as possible all the tricks of the stage, and felt of a surety what was coming, we were interested in the book down to the last page. The character who supplies the title to this novel -- a washed-out young poet who apes Swinburne -- is a contemptible specimen of humanity, whose machinations come to nought, and whose evil devices return upon his own head. There are several other characters of the real Braddon type, while the plot, if not strikingly original, is sufficiently entertaining. The author's peculiar powers certainly show little symptom of flagging as yet.
--The International Review, Vol. 7
