The Living Age Volume 295 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ...recognition, witnessing instead the refreshing reality of young men bounding into fame or notoriety soon after they have toddled out of the cradle into the nursery; or rather soon after they have leaped out of the nursery into the playground; for it is still on the playgrounds of Eton and Winchester and no less the common playground of the street and slum that Europe will be won in the arts as well as in the wars. We offer no comment on this curious thing; or why young men should bound into celebrity almost before they have completed their education. It is a conundrum worthy of an (Edipus. It is generally acknowledged that the great masters, Scott, Dickens, Fielding, Thackeray, Balzac, Hugo and Tolstoy were careless, slovenly fellows; often prosily prolix; fussily psychological; continually bothered as to how to begin and where to end their stories; but when we did venture into the heart of them how completely were we under their spell and at their mercy The modern novelist is much more strategic. The most cursory examination of the work of any of this amazing group reveals the not very original fact that in the sheer craft of their trade; their scrupulous attention to subordinate detail; chaste, clipped phraseology; the poise and balance of their characterization; uncanny sense of atmosphere; they not only rival but actually surpass acknowledged masters like Dickens, Scott, Balzac, and even Thackeray. They are all of them conspicuous literary artists; but in spite of all their sounding triumphs and terrible industry they have neither a keen understanding nor offer a deep reading of human life; and that is one reason why perhaps we shall always prefer a novel of Scott or Balzac to a novel of Compton Mackenzie or Hugh Walpole. We get the...