It has also been called an "yrie poem" by "Publishers Weekly. Featured in the section "In the World of Books" of April 18, 1909 edition of the "Los Angeles Herald", "Betelguese, a Trip Through Hell" was likened to George Sterling's poem "The Wine of Wizardry". In comparing the two poetic works, the columnist felt that "Betelguese" had made "Mr. Sterling's poor dragons look like small pink lizards," stating that De Esque's work had "immortalized the dreams of the opium eater." In later years, it had also been compared to the poetic work of Kenneth Patchen. On its verbose language, one editor at "Manchester Literary Club" felt that the "enthusiastic philologist" would "make heaven" of "Betelguese, a Trip Through Hell". However, a review in the March 28, 1909 edition of the "Salt Lake Tribune" was mixed on De Esque's off-beat use of the English language, stating, "it is plentifully sprinkled with weird words without any particular meaning." The "Salt Lake Tribune" columnist went on to say that "Betelguese was a "wild sort of rhapsody, which is less fierce than one might suppose from the subtitle." "Betelguese, a Trip Through Hell" was published during the nature fakers conflict; the "Los Angeles Herald" columnist further suggests that the book was intentionally released during one of US President Theodore Roosevelt's trips to Africa. According to them, lines such as "mildewed screes" and "poisoned skinks" would have shocked Roosevelt; he goes on to say that he "hopes the poet will have ready an explanation before Colonel Roosevelt returns from Africa."