The Truth About an Author. (A. Constable and Co. tis.
6d.) —This volume, a reprint of papers published in the Academy (New Style), is, we are assured, a "faithful and candid record of facts." We do not doubt it ; the writer of this notice has gone through some of the " author's " experiences, and finds no difficulty in recognising them. Possibly there is a touch of cynicism in the manner of telling them, but who can wonder at such a touch in one who has been behind the scenes ? Here is an extract, one that is as apposite to the occasion as anything that we could find :—
" ' You do not read through all the books that you pretend to criticize ?' he hints. I have never known a reviewer to answer this insinuation straightforwardly in print, but I will answer it : No, I do not. And the man in the street says, shocked: You are unjust.' And I reply : Not at all. I am merely an expert.' The performances of the expert in any craft will surprise and amaze the inexpert. Come with me into my study and I will surprise and amaze you. Have I been handling novels for bread- and-cheese all these years and not learnt to judge them by any process quicker than that employed by you who merely pick up a novel for relaxation after dinner ? Assuming that your taste ie fairly sound, let us be confronted with the same new novel, and I will show you, though you are a quick reader, that I can anticipate your judgment of that novel by a minimum of fifty-five minutes. The title-page—that conjunction of the title, the name of the author, and the name of the publisher—speaks to me, telling me all sorts of things. The very chapter-headings deliver a message of style. The narrative everywhere discloses to me the merits and defects of the writer; no author ever lived who could write a page without giving himself away."
We could point out a place where a reviewer has "answered the insinuation straightforwardly in print."
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