the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Valdemar Adolph Thisted : Letters from Hell

(1) 'I wonder what a book called "Letters from Hell" published at 1/- by Macmillan would be like?' (2) 'I have written up for "Letters from Hell" and it ought to be here by the end of the week. I am looking forward to it immensely...' (3) 'And now I must turn to "Letters of (sic) Hell". I suppose I must have looked forward to it too much: at any rate - I will tell the truth - I have failed to read it, have not enjoyed it a bit and have put it away in my drawer unfinished.... I expected beauties of the phantastic type, and in reality it turns out only a novel. For the parts about Hell are after all only a setting for the story of his previous life... supremely commonplace. The characters are all absolutely crude.... The only part I liked was the vision of paradise.... Still, when both you and Macdonald praise the book, I am ready to believe that the fault must be in me and not in it.' (4) 'I am no longer in a position to take your advice about "Letters from Hell" as we had a jumble sale ... and I contributed this.... They tell me it sold for 1/6! I am at present enjoying the malicious pleasure of expecting that the buyer will be as disappointed as I was.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Clive Staples Lewis      Print: Book

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