TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRITIC:—
The Critic has been so uniformly gracious in its reviews of my books that I am at a loss what to say without giving offence to an old friend. But old friends indulge us in our whims if they don’t quite forgive them. I trust I may be no less fortunate. The following is my grievance :—
In your Sept. 3 issue the reviewer tells the plot of my last book, ‘Cynthia Wakeham’s Money.’ In one sense, I am truly obliged to him, for he is evidently one of the reviewers who read at least part of a book before reviewing it. I am inclined to rebel when he finds it necessary to tell my story for me. Perhaps he will say, ” That is all I could do and say anything.’
My response must be that in a paper like The Critic, where every line is read, the four last lines of the paragraph would have been received by me with thanks. In them he kindly acknowledges that I have accomplished what I profess to do—namely, tell a story. The plot is what I concentrate my efforts upon, giving much time to its elaboration. Do you think it fair to disclose this? The four preferred lines would have been sufficient, and would have had the added value of not depriving the possible reader of the book of the pleasure that there is in mystery.
The Critic is not alone in the matter. It is quite a general custom among reviewers of the press. I do not wish to strike at them over The Critic’s back, but, standing as it does, head and shoulders above similar publications, it could set an example in this direction as it has in others.
Without wishing to conduct your own affairs for you, in any sense, I venture the opinion that such treatment could not fail to meet with the appreciation of writers of fiction, their object being only the entertainment of their readers.
BELFORT, N.Y., Sept. 14, 1892. ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.