Itwould have to fall back upon the immensity of the
soul and upon thebrotherhood of man. With such writers we establish apersonal rather
than an artistic relationship.
That Meredithcan induce such moments proves him
possessed of an extraordinarypower. Histeaching seems now too strident and too
optimistic and too shallow.
The folds of light andshadow everywhere were satin
rich. The Elizabeths and the Emmasof Miss Austen could not possibly be taken for
anything else.
Forliving art presents and records real life, and
the only life we cantruly know is our own. Gissing, indeed, never ceased to educate
himself.
He cannot escape fromthe box in which he has been
bred. He cannot escape fromthe box in which he has been bred.
Only natural differences such as those of brain and
characterwill serve to distinguish us. At any rate, her couragewas justified in her
own case. His cooks are too ripe and rotund; his farmers tooruddy and earthy. We
have to reckon with the author himself.
Following the lilt of her rhythm rather than the
emotions of hercharacters, Mrs. But because Gissing was always thinking, he was
always changing. A birds-eye view of fictionshows us no gentlemen in Dickens; no
working men in Thackeray. A General in those circumstances would certainly have
givenhis coat an extra brush. Itwould have to fall back upon the immensity of the
soul and upon thebrotherhood of man.
Romney, in short, rants and reels like any of
thoseElizabethan heroes whom Mrs.