I have discussed previously authors’ quotations about each other – sometimes derogatory – but how do they and others regard the craft of writing? Here are a few of the more humorous ones. “The covers of this book are too far apart.” (Ambrose Bierce) “That’s not writing, it’s typing.” (Truman Capote on Jack Kerouac) “Coleridge … Continue reading Authors’ quotations on writing: What do writers think of their craft?
Some while ago I wrote about Mark Twain’s opinion of Jane Austen and other authors, but what do other authors and critics think of him and each other? The comments are hardly of glowing admiration. On Mark Twain “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.” (Ernest Hemingway) “A … Continue reading Authors attack! What they think of each other
In part 1 of my blog on literary invective I referred to Mark Twain’s comments about Jane Austen: ‘I haven’t any right to criticize books, and I don’t do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me … Every time I read Pride and … Continue reading Literary invective: Mark Twain on other authors
The pen is said to be mightier than the sword and can be particularly denigrating and effective when used by one author against a fellow author. I am indebted to Gary Dexter, editor of Poisoned Pens: Literary invective from Amis to Zola (published by Francis Lincoln) for the following comments on Jane Austen. Mark … Continue reading Literary invective: On Jane Austen
