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"Why are inferior
novels sometimes very widely read?" P.G.B.
Because
a good many readers of novels do not know the difference between good and bad
work; as a good many people do not know the difference between good and bad
architecture, and build ugly houses when they might build beautiful ones. Because
crudely written novels often deal with subjects in which people are deeply interested
at the moment. Because novels of inferior quality sometimes have considerable
narrative interest; there appear from time to time men and women who have the
gift of telling a story but no feeling for the art of writing. Because tales
of inferior quality are occasionally illuminated by knowledge of character and
by humor. Not all inferior novels are hopelessly bad. It must be added that
there are some popular novels the success of which is inexplicable; they are
cheap in style, clumsily constructed and untrue to life. In a reading public,
as in every other public, there appears to be a residuum of natural depravity
in matters of taste and intelligence.
Hamilton
W. Mabie, "MR. MABIE ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS," Ladies
Home Journal, November 1905
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