Record Number: 12291

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Thanks for your letter & the book. A word in reference to the former. I can?t boast that I discovered what purports to be the "central idea" of the novel for myself. I first heard of Barr?s in an article bY Edward Delille in the "Fortnightly." Next I read a criticism of this very book in the latest volume issued of Anatole France?s "La Vie Litteraire". Lastly there was a rather striking article in a recent "Scribner" on new ideas in French Literature generally in which the name of Barr?s was prominent. So when I actually bought the book I knew just what to expect. As I understand the thing, the author is at direct variance with Flaubert, Zola & Guy de Maupassant, who at all costs aim at an impartial, impersonal presentment of life. He prefers to take a character & describe events and men solely in relation to their effect on that character. In a word his novel is all hero. He cares nothing for absolute perspective. He interests himself in nothing but what affects his hero. Everything is described through the hero?s eyes, & consequently everything is intentionally coloured & distorted. He utterly despises the "one-eyed apathetic insight of the camera". You mention his symbolism. I believe that the presence of numerous symbols & analogies in the actual writing is only a minor & unimportant manifestation of the symbolist theory. The whole book in its main outlines is a congeries of symbols. . . '

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Sep 1891 and 24 May 1893

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: London

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Arnold Bennett

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

27 May 1867

Socio-Economic Group:

Clerk / tradesman / artisan / smallholder

Occupation:

lawyer's clerk

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Maurice Barres

Title:

Le Jardin de Berenice

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12291

Source:

Print

Author:

Arnold Bennett

Editor:

James Hepburn

Title:

Letters of Arnold Bennett

Place of Publication:

London: Oxford University Press

Date of Publication:

1968

Vol:

II

Page:

7

Additional Comments:

Letter from Bennett to George Sturt from 6 Victoria Grove, Chelsea, London dated 24.v.93

Citation:

Arnold Bennett, James Hepburn (ed.), Letters of Arnold Bennett, (London: Oxford University Press, 1968), II, p. 7, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12291, accessed: 14 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

editor's note: The article by Edward Delille on Maurice Barres (1862-1923) appeared in the 'Fortnightly' on 1 September 1891.