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Letters on Literature
Letters on Literature
By Andrew Lang
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Letters on Literature
DEDICATION
Dear Mr。 Way；
After so many letters to people who never existed； may I venture a
short one； to a person very real to me； though I have never seen him； and
only know him by his many kindnesses？ Perhaps you will add another to
these by accepting the Dedication of a little work； of a sort experimental in
English； and in prose； though Horacein Latin and in versewas
successful with it long ago？
Very sincerely yours；
A。 LANG。
To W。 J。 Way； Esq。 Topeka； Kansas。
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Letters on Literature
PREFACE
These Letters were originally published in the Independent of New
York。 The idea of writing them occurred to the author after he had
produced 〃Letters to Dead Authors。〃 That kind of Epistle was open to
the objection that nobody would write so frankly to a correspondent about
his own work； and yet it seemed that the form of Letters might be
attempted again。 The Lettres e Emilie sur la Mythologie are a well…
known model； but Emilie was not an imaginary correspondent。 The
persons addressed here； on the other hand； are all people of fancythe
name of Lady Violet Lebas is an invention of Mr。 Thackeray's： gifted
Hopkins is the minor poet in Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes's 〃Guardian
Angel。〃 The author's object has been to discuss a few literary topics with
more freedom and personal bias than might be permitted in a graver kind
of essay。 The Letter on Samuel Richardson is by a lady more frequently
the author's critic than his collaborator。
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Letters on Literature
INTRODUCTORY： OF
MODERN ENGLISH POETRY
To Mr。 Arthur Wincott； Topeka； Kansas。
Dear Wincott；You write to me； from your 〃bright home in the setting
sun；〃 with the flattering information that you have read my poor 〃Letters
to Dead Authors。〃 You are kind enough to say that you wish I would
write some 〃Letters to Living Authors；〃 but that； I fear； is out of the
question；for me。
A thoughtful critic in the Spectator has already remarked that the great
men of the past would not care for my shadowy epistlesif they could
read them。 Possibly not； but； like Prior； 〃I may write till they can spell〃
an exercise of which ghosts are probably as incapable as was Matt's little
Mistress of Quality。 But Living Authors are very different people； and it
would be perilous； as well as impertinent； to direct one's comments on
them literally； in the French phrase； 〃to their address。〃 Yet there is no
reason why a critic should not adopt the epistolary form。
Our old English essays； the papers in the Tatler and Spectator； were
originally nothing but letters。 The vehicle permits a touch of personal
taste； perhaps of personal prejudice。 So I shall write my 〃Letters on
Literature；〃 of the present and of the past； English； American； ancient； or
modern； to you； in your distant Kansas； or to such other correspondents as
are kind enough to read these notes。
Poetry has always the precedence in these discussions。 Poor Poetry！
She is an ancient maiden of good family； and is led out first at banquets；
though many would prefer to sit next some livelier and younger Muse； the
lady of fiction； or even the chattering soubrette of journalism。 Seniores
priores： Poetry； if no longer very popular； is a dame of the worthiest
lineage； and can boast a long train of gallant admirers； dead and gone。
She has been much in courts。 The old Greek tyrants loved her； great
Rhamses seated her at his right hand； every prince had his singers。 Now
we dwell in an age of democracy； and Poetry wins but a feigned respect；
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Letters on Literature
more out of courtesy； and for old friendship's sake； than for liking。
Though so many write verse； as in Juvenal's time； I doubt if many read it。
〃None but minstrels list of sonneting。〃 The purchasing public； for poetry；
must now consist chiefly of poets； and they are usually poor。
Can anything speak more clearly of the decadence of the art than the
birth of so many poetical 〃societies〃？ We have the Browning Society；
the Shelley Society； the Shakespeare Society； the Wordsworth Society
lately dead。 They all demonstrate that people have not the courage to
study verse in solitude； and for their proper pleasure； men and women
need confederates in this adventure。 There is safety in numbers； and； by
dint of tea…parties； recitations； discussions； quarrels and the like； Dr。
Furnivall and his friends keep blowing the faint embers on the altar of
Apollo。 They cannot raise a flame！
In England we are in the odd position of having several undeniable
poets； and very little new poetry worthy of the name。 The chief singers
have outlived； if not their genius； at all events its flowering time。 Hard it
is to estimate poetry； so apt we are； by our very nature； to prefer 〃the
newest songs；〃 as Odysseus says men did even during the war of Troy。
Or； following another ancient example； we say； like the rich niggards who
neglected Theocritus； 〃Homer is enough for all。〃
Let us attempt to get rid of every bias； and； thinking as dispassionately
as we can； we still seem to read the name of Tennyson in the golden book
of English poetry。 I cannot think that he will ever fall to a lower place； or
be among those whom only curious students pore over； like Gower；
Drayton； Donne； and the rest。 Lovers of poetry will always read him as
they will read Wordsworth； Keats； Milton； Coleridge； and Chaucer。 Look
his defects in the face； throw them into the balance； and how they
disappear before his merits！ He is the last and youngest of the mighty
race； born； as it were； out of due time； late； and into a feebler generation。
Let it be admitted that the gold is not without alloy； that he has a touch
of voluntary affectation； of obscurity； even an occasional perversity； a
mannerism； a set of favourite epithets （〃windy〃 and 〃happy〃）。 There is a
momentary echo of Donne； of Crashaw； nay； in his earliest pieces； even a
touch of Leigh Hunt。 You detect it in pieces like 〃Lilian〃 and 〃Eleanore；〃
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Letters on Literature