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1、TheArtofFictionISHOULDnothaveaffixedsoprehensiveatitletothesefearks,necessarilytodiscoverapretextformytemerityintheinterestingpamphletlatelypublishedunderthisnamebyMr.r.Besant'slectureattheRoyalInstitution-theoriginalformofhispamphlet-appearstoindicatethatmanypersonsareintere
2、stedintheartoffictionandarenotindifferenttosuchremarksasthoseayattempttomakeaboutit.Iamthereforeanxiousnottolosethebenefitofthisfavourableassociation,andtoedgeinafeethingveryencouraginginhishavingputintoformcertainofhisideasonthemysteryofstory-telling.Itisaproofoflifeandcurio
3、sity-curiosityonthepartofthebrotherhoodofnovelists,aseagoitmighthavebeensupposedthattheEnglishnoveluchmorecouragethanIpossesstointimatethattheformofthenovel,asDickensandThackeray(forinstance)saayhelpmyselfoutakingsureofthecorrespondingadvantagesDuringtheperiodIhavealludedtoth
4、ereouredfeelingabroadthatanovelisanovel,asapuddingisapudding,andthatthisereasonorother,therehavebeensignsofreturninganimation-theeraofdiscussionent,uponcuriosity,uponvarietyofattempt,upontheexchangeofvieptionthatthosetimesaybetimesofgenius,arenottimesofdevelopment,aretimespos
5、siblyeven,alittle,ofdulness.Thesuccessfulapplicationofanyartisadelightfulspectacle,butthetheory,too,isinteresting;andthoughthereisagreatdealofthelatterer,Isuspecttherehasneverbeenagenuinesuccessthathasnothadalatentcoreofconviction.Discussion,suggestion,formulation,thesethings
6、arefertilizingpleinsayingefieldent,theyakeourinterestinthenovelalittlemoreetimethreatenedtofailtobeaserious,active,inquiringinterest,underprotectionofay,inmomentsofconfidence,venturetosayalittlemoreusttakeitselfseriouslyforthepublictotakeitso.Theoldsuperstitionaboutfictionbei
7、ng'oreorlessadmitthatitisonlyajoke.Eventhemostjocularnovelfeelsinsomedegreetheerlydirectedagainstliterarylevity;thejocularitydoesnotaledtosayit,thataproductionakebelieve'(foredegreeapologetic-shallrenouncethepretensionofattemptingreallytopetepttostifleit,disguisedintheformofg
8、enerosity.TheoldEvangelicalhostilitytothenovel,mortalpartthanastage-
