Of the essays here reprinted, nearly half are practically new to English readers, having been written for an American review, and having been quoted only in fragments on this side of the Atlantic. At the close of the volume I have added a Lucianic sketch, which, when it appeared anonymously in the _Fortnightly Review_, enjoyed the singular and embarrassing distinction of being attributed, in succession, to four amusing writers, each of whom is deservedly a greater favourite of the public than I am. I have seen this little extravaganza ticketed with such eminent names that I almost hesitate to have to claim it at last as my own. I hope there was none but very innocent fooling in it, and that not a word in it can give anybody pain. I think it was not an unfair representation of what literature in England, from a social point of view, consisted two years ago. Already death has been busy with my ideal Academy, and no dreamer of 1893 could summon together quite so admirable a company as was still citable in 1891. LONDON, _April 1893_. Contents PAGE THE TYRANNY OF THE NOVEL 1 THE INFLUENCE OF DEMOCRACY ON LITERATURE 33 HAS AMERICA PRODUCED A POET? 69 WHAT IS A GREAT POET? 91 MAKING A NAME IN LITERATURE 113 THE LIMITS OF REALISM IN FICTION 135 IS VERSE IN DANGER? 155 TENNYSON--AND AFTER 175 SHELLEY IN 1892 199 SYMBOLISM AND M. STÉPHANE MALLARMÉ 217 TWO PASTELS:-- I. MR. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON AS A POET 237 II. MR. RUDYARD KIPLING'S SHORT STORIES 255 AN ELECTION AT THE ENGLISH ACADEMY 295 APPENDICES 323 _The following Essays originally appeared in 'The Contemporary Review,' 'The Fortnightly Review,' 'The National Review,' 'The New Review,' 'The Forum,' 'The Century Magazine,' 'Longman's Magazine,' and 'The Academy.'_ THE TYRANNY OF THE NOVEL The Tyranny of the Novel