Little Pilgrimages Among the Men Who Have Written Famous BooksHarkins, E. F. (Edward Francis)
General
Little Pilgrimages Among the Men Who Have Written Famous Books
Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis)
Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography
Even more sensational than the luck of "Rudder Grange" was the luck of
"The Lady or the Tiger?" The story had a phenomenal sale--for those
days--in this country, and it has been translated into a few foreign
languages. "Perhaps the most interesting thing about 'The Lady or the
Tiger?'" says the humorist, "is its great popularity among the savage
races. It has been told again and again by the story-tellers of Burmah.
A missionary once told the story to a tribe of Karens up in the north
of Burmah. When she came back a year later the tribe surrounded her and
wanted to know if she had found out whether--
"I cannot answer the question, for I have no earthly idea myself. I
really have never been able to decide whether the Lady or the Tiger
came out of that door. Yet I must defend myself. People for years have
upbraided me for leaving it a mystery; some used to write me that I
had no right to impose upon the good nature of the public in that
manner. However, when I started in to write the story, I really
intended to finish it. But it would never let itself be finished. I
could not decide. And to this day, I have, I assure you, no more idea
than anyone else."
It used to be said that Mr. Stockton was a short-story writer and
nothing more, as if that were not the most difficult branch of fiction;
but he silenced these reckless critics with "The Late Mrs. Null,"
which, in the beginning, had the biggest circulation of all his books.
Since then book has followed book, regularly but not hurriedly. The
author of "Rudder Grange" does not follow the plan of Trollope; he does
not work so many hours a day, mood or no mood. Sometimes up to luncheon
time not a word has been put on paper.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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