
audiobook
by R. Brimley (Reginald Brimley) Johnson
MORAL POISON
FOREWORD
I "THEY STRUGGLED ALONG LIKE THE REST OF THEIR YOUNG WORLD, THE EYE FOR THE EYE, THE TOOTH FOR THE TOOTH, LUST AND LOVING ALIKE ONLY IN RETURN FOR LOVING AND LUST."
II THEN CAME THE WAR!
III BECAUSE WHILE THEY LIVED VIOLENTLY, YOUTH ALSO THOUGHT HARD.
IV WHAT, THEN, WERE THE NEW MORAL PROBLEMS, WHAT WAS THE FRANK OUTLOOK, RAISED AND ADOPTED BEFORE THE WAR?
V THE "SPADE" IDEAL IN FICTION
VI NOVELS OF "GAY LIFE," WITH THE PROSTITUTE HEROINE, ARE, QUITE OBVIOUSLY, STRONG MORAL INTOXICANTS.
VII WHAT DO THE "NEW" WRITERS AND THINKERS TO-DAY ACTUALLY TEACH? HOW DO THEY INTERPRET LIFE AND LOVE?
VIII WHAT, THEN, IS THIS NEW LOVE? IT IS SEX-CONFLICT.
This work takes a thoughtful look at how contemporary novels shape the moral landscape of their readers. The author argues that the stories flooding the market since the early twentieth century act as powerful teachers, often delivering ideas about love, sexuality, and duty that can feel both liberating and unsettling. By tracing the shift from pre‑war conventions to the turbulent post‑war questioning of old values, the book reveals how fiction can become a subtle conduit for new, sometimes controversial, attitudes.
Through a series of concise essays, the writer examines the rise of candid sexual themes, the portrayal of free love, and the way literary trends have influenced public perception of gender roles. While acknowledging the need for honest discussion, the text also warns of the potential for “moral poison” when sensationalism eclipses genuine reflection. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of the complex relationship between storytelling and the evolving ethics of modern life.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (84K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clarity, Lisa Reigel, Michael Zeug, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2016-01-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1867–1932
A literary critic, biographer, and editor of the late Victorian and early modern period, this writer is best remembered for work on major English authors and for helping keep classic literature in circulation. His career centered on nineteenth-century literary culture, especially figures such as Shelley, Leigh Hunt, and Jane Austen.
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