
A lively portrait of the early twentieth‑century literary world unfolds as the author examines the surge of book‑reading enthusiasm that followed the Great War. He explains how four publishing houses joined forces to create a work that both celebrates and interrogates the rise of bookstores, libraries, and literary criticism. The preface sets a conversational tone, promising thoughtful observations without sacrificing rigorous insight.
The heart of the volume consists of vivid sketches of prominent writers—Galsworthy, Conrad, Arthur Train, and many others—presented with fresh anecdotes and keen analysis. By blending biographical detail with personal commentary, the author invites listeners to glimpse the personalities that shaped beloved novels and plays. It feels like a guided tour through the minds behind the stories, offering both historical context and engaging storytelling for anyone curious about literature’s recent past.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (589K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: D. Appleton and Compay, 1923.
Credits
Alan, Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-03-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1887–1930
An energetic early-20th-century American writer and critic, he moved easily between novels, literary essays, and editorial work. His books often show a lively interest in how authors write and how modern reading culture was changing.
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