Evidence: | 'As you ask me for my opinion I shall try and give it as truly as I can; otherwise it will be of no use [...] In the first place you say you do not call The 3 paths a novel; but the work is in the form which always assumes that name, nor do I think it is one to be quarrelled with. I suppose you mean that you used the narrative form merely to {convey} introduce certain opinions & thoughts. If so you had better have condensed them into the shape of an Essay. Those in Friends in Council &c. are admirable examples of how much may be said on both sides of any question without any {dogma} decision being finally arrived at, & certainly without any dogmatism. [Gaskell then discusses the merits of the concise essay form] But I believe in spite of yr objection to the term 'novel' you do wish to 'narrate', - and I believe you can do it if you try, - but I think you must observe what is [italics] out [end italics] of you, instead of examining what is [italics] in [end italics] you. [Gaskell explains the merits of this at length]. Just read a few pages of De Foe &c - and you will see the healthy way in which he sets [italics] objects [end italics] not [italics] feelings [end italics] before you. [She advises Grey to use what he observes through every day contact with real people] Think if you can not imagine a complication of events in their life which would form a good plot. (Your plot in The Three paths is very poor; you have not thought enough about it - simply used it s a medium. [She discusses the advantages of tight plotting and advises] Don't intrude yourself into your description. If you but think eagerly of your story till [italics] you see it in action [end italics], words, good simple strong words will come. [she then criticises his overuse of epithets, overlong conversations and allusions, concluding] You see I am very frank-spoken. But I believe you are worth it.' |
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Century: | 1850-1899 | ||||||||||
Date: | Between 1 Jan 1847 and 15 Mar 1859 | ||||||||||
Country: | England | ||||||||||
Time: | n/a | ||||||||||
Place: | city: Manchester | ||||||||||
Type of Experience (Reader): |
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Type of Experience (Listener): |
|
Reader: | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell |
Age | Adult (18-100+) |
Gender | Female |
Date of Birth | 29 Sep 1810 |
Socio-economic group: | Professional / academic / merchant / farmer |
Occupation: | author and clergyman's wife |
Religion: | n/a |
Country of origin: | England |
Country of experience: | England |
Listeners present if any: (e.g. family, servants,
friends, workmates) |
n/a |
Additional comments: | n/a |
Author: | Arthur Helps |
Title: | Friends in Council |
Genre: | Essays / Criticism |
Form of Text: | Print: Book |
Publication details: | two series, published 1847 and 1859 |
Provenance: | unknown |
Record ID: | 19246 | |
Source - | ||
Author: | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell | |
Editor: | J.A.V. Chapple | |
Title: | Letters of Mrs Gaskell, The | |
Place of Publication: | Manchester | |
Date of Publication: | 1997 | |
Vol: | n/a | |
Page: | 541-2 | |
Additional comments: | n/a |
Citation: | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, J.A.V. Chapple (ed.), Letters of Mrs Gaskell, The (Manchester, 1997), p. 541-2, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=19246, accessed: 29 March 2024 |
Additional editor, Arthur Pollard. Letter to Herbert Grey. |
Reading Experience Database version 2.0. Page updated: 27th Apr 2016 3:15pm (GMT)