Writers, readers, and reputations : literary life in Britain, 1870-1918

Charles Dickens died in 1870, the same year in which universal elementary education was introduced. During the following generation a mass reading public emerged, and the term 'best-seller' was coined. In new and cheap editions Dickens's stories sold hugely, but these were progressively outstripped in quantity by the likes of Hall Caine and Marie Corelli, Charles Garvice and Nat Gould. Who has now heard of these writers? Yet Hall Caine, for one, boasted of having made more money from his pen than any previous author. This book presents a panoramic view of literary life in Britain over half a century from 1870 to 1914, teasing out authors' relations with the reading public and tracing how reputations were made and unmade. It surveys readers' habits, the book trade, popular literary magazines and the role of reviewers, and examines the construction of a classical canon by critics concerned about the supposed corruption of popular taste. Certain writers were elevated as national heroes, yet Britain drew its writers from abroad as well as from home. Authors became stars and celebrities, and a literary tourism grew around their haunts. They advertised products from cigarettes to toothpaste; they were fashion-conscious and promoted themselves via profiles, interviews, and carefully posed photographs; they went on lecture tours to America; and their names were pushed by a new professional breed: the literary agent. Some angled for knighthoods, even peerages, and cut a figure in high society and London clubland. The debated public issues of the day and campaigned on all manner of things from questions of faith and women's rights to censorship and conscription. During the Great War they penned propaganda. Meanwhile the cinema was developing to challenge the supremacy of the written word over the imagination. Authors took to that too, as an opportunity for new adventure. Writers, Readers, and Reputations is richly entertaining and informative, amounting to a collective biography of a generation of writers and their world. Charles Dickens died in 1870, the same year in which universal elementary education was introduced. During the following generation a mass reading public emerged, and the term'best-seller'was coined. In new and cheap editions Dickens's stories sold hugely, but these were progressively outstripped in quantity by the likes of Hall Caine and Marie Corelli, Charles Garvice and Nat Gould. Who has now heard of these writers? Yet Hall Caine, for one, boasted of having made more money from his pen than any previous author. This book presents a panoramic view of literary life in Britain over half a century from 1870 to 1918, teasing out authors'relations with the reading public and tracing how reputations were made and unmade. It surveys readers'habits, the book trade, popular literary magazines and the role of reviewers, and examines the construction of a classical canon by critics concerned about the supposed corruption of popular taste. Certain writers were elevated as national heroes, yet Britain drew its writers from abroad as well as from home. Authors became stars and celebrities, and a literary tourism grew around their haunts. They advertised products from cigarettes to toothpaste; they were fashion-conscious and promoted themsevles via profiles, interviews, and carefully posed photographs; they went on lecture tours to America; and their names were pushed by a new professional breed: the literary agent. Some angled for knighthoods, even peerages, and cut a figure in high society and London clubland. They debated public issues of the day and campaigned on all manner of things from questions of faith and women's rights to censorship and conscription. During the Great War they penned propaganda. Meanwhile the cinema was developing to challenge the supremacy of the written word over the imagination. Authors took to that too, as an opportunity for new adventure. Writers, Readers, and Reputations is richly entertaining and informative, amounting to a collective biography of a generation of writers and their world. Dedication 6 Preface 8 Contents 10 List of Illustrations 12 List of Abbreviations 13 I. THE READING WORLD 14 1. Back to the Future: Authors at the Movies 16 2. Consenting and Dissenting Bibliophiles in Public and Private 30 3. Literary Advice and Advisers 81 4. Reviews and Reviewers 129 5. The Great Tradition 188 6 The Commemoration Movement 245 7. English Literature’s Foreign Relations; or, ‘’E dunno ou` il est!’ 292 II. WRITERS AND THE PUBLIC: THE PRICE OF FAME 340 8. Product Advertising and Self-Advertising 342 9. The Star Turn 377 10. Playing the Press: Entry and Exposure 411 11. Securing the Future 440 12. Titles and Laurels 461 13. Social Prestige and Clubbability 503 14. The Aristocratic Round and Salon Circle 536 15. Looking and Acting the Part 573 16. Lecture Tours 588 17. Literary Properties and Agencies 628 III. BEST-SELLERS 646 18. Market Conditions 648 19. In Cupid’s Chains: Charles Garvice 694 20. Hymns and Heroines: Florence Barclay 715 21. The Epic Ego: Hall Caine 742 22. The Demonic Dreamer: Marie Corelli 780 23. Authors at Play: Nat Gould Leads the Field 830 IV. WRITERS AND THE PUBLIC: PENMEN AS PUNDITS 856 24. The Campaign Trail 858 25. Public Service and Party Politics 916 26. Pens at War 939 27. Pricking Censorship 988 28. Theology versus Sociology and Psychology 1015 Bibliography 1060 Index of Book, Essay, Pamphlet, Play, Poem and Short Story Titles 1090 General Index 1116 Philip Waller Explores The Literary World In Which The Modern Best-seller First Emerged, With Writers Promoted As Stars And Celebrities, Advertising Both Products And Themselves. I. The Reading World. Back To The Future : Authors At The Movies -- Consenting And Dissenting Bibliophiles In Public And Private -- Literary Advice And Advisers -- Reviews And Reviewers -- The Great Tradition -- The Commemoration Movement -- English Literature's Foreign Relations; Or E Dunno Ou Il Est!. Ii. Writers And The Public : The Price Of Fame. Product Advertising And Self-advertising -- The Star Turn -- Playing The Press : Entry And Exposure -- Securing The Future -- Titles And Laurels -- Social Prestige And Clubbability -- The Artistocratic Round And Salon Circle -- Looking And Acting The Part -- Lecture Tours -- Literary Properties And Agencies. Iii. Best Sellers. Market Conditions -- In Cupid's Chains : Charles Garvice -- Hymns And Heroines : Florence Barclay -- The Epic Ego : Hall Caine -- The Demonic Dreamer: Marie Corelli -- Authors At Play : Nat Gould Leads The Field. Iv. Writers And The Public : Penmen As Pundits. The Campaign Trail -- Public Service And Party Politics -- Pens At War -- Pricking Censorship -- Theology Versus Sociology And Psychology. Philip Waller. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [1047]-1075) And Indexes.