MORAL POISON IN MODERN FICTION MORAL POISON IN MODERN FICTION BY R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON AUTHOR OF "SOME CONTEMPORARY NOVELISTS," ETC. [Illustration] LONDON A. M. PHILPOT, LTD. 69 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, W.C.1 CONTENTS PAGE I. "LIKE THE REST OF THEIR YOUNG WORLD" 7 II. THEN CAME THE WAR! 12 III. WHILE THEY LIVED VIOLENTLY, YOUTH ALSO THOUGHT HARD 17 IV. WHAT, THEN, WERE THE NEW MORAL PROBLEMS? WHAT WAS THE FRANK OUTLOOK, RAISED AND LARGELY ACCEPTED, BEFORE THE WAR? 21 V. THE "SPADE" IDEAL IN FICTION 24 VI. NOVELS OF "GAY LIFE" ARE, QUITE OBVIOUSLY, STRONG MORAL INTOXICANTS 33 VII. WHAT DO THE NEW WRITERS AND THINKERS TO-DAY TEACH? HOW DO THEY INTERPRET LIFE AND LOVE? 39 VIII. WHAT IS THIS LOVE? IT IS SEX-CONFLICT 53 IX. WHO _IS_ THE IDEAL MISTRESS? 64 X. HERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF FREE LOVE 72 XI. HAVE WE ALREADY FORGOTTEN THE NATURAL LOYALTY OF YOUTH? HOW ARE WE PAYING OUR DEBT TO THEM? 79 FOREWORD I have not systematically searched modern fiction to illustrate or support the arguments of this book. Every novel quoted, or even mentioned, has come before me in the day's work, as a reviewer. It is scarcely necessary to add that no personal reflection upon any writer has even crossed my mind. I am not here concerned with the cause or motive of literature, but with its effect. R. B. J. I "THEY STRUGGLED ALONG LIKE THE REST OF THEIR YOUNG WORLD, THE EYE FOR THE EYE, THE TOOTH FOR THE TOOTH, LUST AND LOVING ALIKE ONLY IN RETURN FOR LOVING AND LUST." It is a grim enough charge against our generation. Dare we pronounce it untrue? Upon what theories of private morality are the young now fed? Morals are, obviously, influenced in most cases by example and the atmosphere of the home; but are not these themselves mainly produced, whether consciously or not, by the teaching and tone of these who profess to think? In these latter days most thought reaches us through fiction, most emotion through drama. _Without hesitation, I would maintain that an immense number of novels now being written contain much deadly poison._