A note from the editor Note from editor: I am going through and updating some of these classic articles/essays on writing. Some of these, are just so amazing. They are pieces of literary history. This particular piece is Robert Louis Stevenson's review of Walt Whitman's writing style. It's a unique look from one famous mind in history at the work of another's. For some … [Read more...] about Robert Louis Stevenson on Walt Whitman’s Style
Historic Articles by Authors
Of Truth by Francis Bacon
What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. Certainly there be, that delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to fix a belief; affecting free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And though the sects of philosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing wits, which are of the same veins, though there be not so much blood in … [Read more...] about Of Truth by Francis Bacon
Central Park Walks and Talks by Walt Whitman
Central Park Walks and Talks by Walt Whitman May 16 to 22.—I visit Central Park now almost every day, sitting, or slowly rambling, or riding around. The whole place presents its very best appearance this current month—the full flush of the trees, the plentiful white and pink of the flowering shrubs, the emerald green of the grass spreading everywhere, yellow dotted still with … [Read more...] about Central Park Walks and Talks by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman on Thanksgiving
The Place Gratitude Fills in a Fine Character by Walt Whitman From the Philadelphia Press, Nov. 27, 1884, (Thanksgiving number) Scene.—A large family supper party, a night or two ago, with voices and laughter of the young, mellow faces of the old, and a by-and-by pause in the general joviality. "Now, Mr. Whitman," spoke up one of the girls, "what have you to say about … [Read more...] about Walt Whitman on Thanksgiving
Mark Twain is a Slob by Willa Cather
If there is anything which should make an American sick and disgusted at the literary taste of his country, and almost swerve his allegiance to his flag it is that controversy between Mark Twain and Max O’Rell, in which the Frenchman proves himself a wit and a gentleman and the American shows himself little short of a clown and an all around tough. The squabble arose apropos of … [Read more...] about Mark Twain is a Slob by Willa Cather
Shakespeare Sucks! by Leo Tolstoy
Shakespeare Sucks! by Leo Tolstoy I remember the astonishment I felt when I first read Shakespeare. I expected to receive a powerful esthetic pleasure, but having read, one after the other, works regarded as his best: "King Lear," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," not only did I feel no delight, but I felt an irresistible repulsion and tedium, and doubted as to … [Read more...] about Shakespeare Sucks! by Leo Tolstoy
The Art of Fiction by Henry James
Intro from your Editor Henry James was an artist. If you have ever read his work, you know that he was so dedicated to the craft of writing that his fiction rises to the level of art. I think Henry James is fantastic. I love a lot of his work. If you haven't read him, you should. In this essay James defines, in someways, what art is. He says in the beginning that maybe the … [Read more...] about The Art of Fiction by Henry James
Twain’s Letter About Edgar Allan Poe
To W. D. Howells, in New York: STORMFIELD, REDDING, CONN., Jan. 18, '09. Dear Howells, I have to write a line, lazy as I am, to say how your Poe article delighted me; and to say that I am in agreement with substantially all you say about his literature. To me his prose is unreadable—like Jane Austin's. No, there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, … [Read more...] about Twain’s Letter About Edgar Allan Poe
The Poetry of Ezra Pound by T. S. Eliot
Here are some quick notes on this introduction T.S. Eliot wrote about Ezra Pound's poetry. This intro is from Ezra Pound: and His Metric Poetry. Pound, may not have become very significant in his writing, but he was very significant in his influence. He wrote a lot about poetry, and he simply, got around. He played a role in the works of many major poets in the modernist … [Read more...] about The Poetry of Ezra Pound by T. S. Eliot
Mark Twain Plagiarized Oliver Wendell Holmes
The truth here is that Mark Twain Plagiarized Oliver Wendell Holmes. Once again we have found a quip from Twain that we feel needs to be highlighted in the pages of history. Twain is one of our favorite writers, especially when it comes to writing about writing. If he did everything he says he wanted to do in those times, most writers, peers of Twain's, would be dead. Twain … [Read more...] about Mark Twain Plagiarized Oliver Wendell Holmes