There is a contemporary verdict on J.A.St John’s history of Ancient Greece when S. V. Spilsbury makes a judgment on the book in her contribution to the ‘Dictionary of National Biography.’ She writes ‘Among his other works mention may be made of The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece (3 vols., 1842), an impressive compilation taken from original sources. ^[1]

But what were the verdicts when the book was first published?

The ‘Times’ - of Monday Mar 06, 1843 - announces the publication of the book amongst the advertisements on the front page.

Now ready in 3 vols. 8vo., price 31s.6d

THE HISTORY of the MANNERS, Customs Arts, &c., of ANCIENT GREECE, By J.A.St.JOHN,Esq. Decidedly composed for the gratification of the popular thirst for instructive and entertaining knowledge, ”Literary Gazette, “ The true originality of this work consists of its execution, which is of a much more popular and readable character than books professing to describe the life and manners of the classical age usually are,” - Specator. Richard Bentley. New Burlington-street, publisher in ordinary to Her Majesty. ^[2]

The publisher, Richard Bentley, used extracts from a few contemporary reviews to promote the book for a popular audience. He also announced that he was a publisher ‘in ordinary to Her Majesty’

On reading the entry for James Augustus St John in ‘Men of Our Time’, one can only feel that Richard Bentley ought be castigated for his parsimony, and hope that Royalty had been better treated. It would also seem that James Augustus should have employed Charles Dickens as his literary agent. (Charles Dickens edited Bentley's Miscellany, Bentley’s, which published his own novel "Oliver Twist" in the early issues of the magazine - beginning in the February issue of 1836)

James Augustus St John later contributed articles to ‘Bentley’s Miscellany’ but he thought his history of Ancient Greece to be the best of his output (Men of Our time) and the book had a rather strange afterlife, (See Henry Mayhew and ‘My friend, Horace St John')

One of St John's articles for 'Bentley's Miscellany' is

'GOVERNMENT PLAN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY. BY JAMES AUGUSTUS ST. JOHN, 
AUTHOR OF "THE MANNERS, ETC., OF ANCIENT GREECE."'

Bentley's Miscellany (By Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith, George Cruikshank, Hablot Knight Browne) Published by Richard Bentley, 1848