New-York tribune., 1878-07-05
A CHAT WITH FARJEON.

luxunously furnished apartments in Thrteenthst' lie
is now dramatizng little comedy from one OF MS "or
for q local theatre The author OF Blade o Grass Is
young well-bui and handsome, with Hebrew cast OF
countenance His quick nervous manner, direct speech
and constant pacing of the floor when animated remind
one rather OF the OF affairs than the author nc
has apparently lived WE'LL without playing the syoafte
"Howells Henry james, jr., and Aldrich haven't
read" he lately said in conversation. in Engahu
we don't get the prominent works of American heton
don't know whether the reason is that your American
works are so intensely local to prevent their popular
ity In England although Sampson Low, OF all Enghsh
publishers has introduced TO an enormous quantity
OF American literature
George Eliot belongs to past generation IN the mat
Tor OF short stories She has fallen into the common
error of harping much string. blemish III
Hare his constant use of the gambling element
and the terms OF brag aud poker Now the ordinary
English reader doesn't understand the slang, ana MS
works naturally suffer in consequence. In 'Ihankiu
Blossom Harte has struck bright vein OF tenderness
without mOrbdity Iarte is often tender, but moroiu
II he would abandon that trait he wOuld 10
himself greater Justice have given away
half dozen copies Of this story to London friends
Harte should coabOrate with author who has pro-
duced gOOd substantial stories, he could wr'e nner
serials than Gabriel COnrOy.'
{" admire sincerely the popular magazines OF AhierI
ca. We have nothing to compare with them AT the
same time you haven't a Nineteenth Century and Fort
nightly Rereic."
"The present era of English fiction compares favora-
bly, with former epochs and its many good qualities are
encouraging. l surprised at the popularity tue nc
ton of Dsrael has obtained However, he is not read
by the people, but by the wealthy classes II George
EIiot's later works were published in cheap and popu
lar form doubt whether they would be fead much ana
admired The same class that read popular magazines
here in England read cheap OF popular authors
But the early works Of George Eliot, 'M on the FLOSS
for example, If published In cheap form, would 'oi-
mand extraordinary popularity in England while Nlid
dlemarcP and Daniel Deronda' would be above tue
heads Of ordinary people"
"won't you say a word in reference TO the copyright
question r.
"In common with other English authors have consid-
cred it great injustice that copyright law exists be-
tween England ard America. As 20 my recent BOOK
Solomon Isaacs' which has started a feeling
for ana against me- sold the copyright to Jefferson
who came to America before end brought II he.n
did th, to II English author could obtain here an
inviolate copyright jefferson wrote few ipes In the
story TO constitute himself In part author Of It,
Carleton publs IT, and few weeks copyright
was respected But the Lakeside Library soon issued
the story for ten cents These cheap series. Lakeside
Riverside, etc, viii do something toward making a
copyrigh law because the American publisher lnds hc
cannot protect himself without enactment Of the
kind. Captain Burnaby's worss' Ride to khiva,' Tor
insauce-are published IN England in expensive FORM
Here they are issued by publishers in good standing IN
nice STYLE but are pOunced by the propucois OF
cheap series aud sold for English hvepcncc. Au
American publisher complained 10 ire The other day that
dollar work he had printed had been published AFTER
ward 10y another firm for ten cents But lc added that
be hadn't yet paid the author. which somewhat Hight
encd his trouble We have An association IN London
started four or ye years 10 protcc, the rights Of
authors, and the majority OF English authors were tub
scribcrs. The Executive Committee was composed
OF ten, eleven members. Charles Reade
the younger Charles Dickens, blanchard Jcr-
rold. Wikio Collins, John HollIngshead, Jen-
klns, Of 'Ginx's Baby fame, aud myself among
the number. We endcayored TO get some encourage
ment on this side OF the water, but could get no help
whatever We unable 10 ob'a AN incorporation
The general feeling ayanst any arrangement OF tue
kind The association still exists but resting on It's
oars American authors could doubtless bring the
complaint against England IN the matter OF Infringe
ment but TO one American book published IN England
afy English works are published IN America. The bal
ance Of profit considerably in favor OF this country
The Injustice OF the thing make Inc feel deeply ON tho
subject have copies OF several Of my works published
in different forms in America but never
received one ceut from any Of the publishers. In a
financial sense it's better TO be publisher than author
or all the members of this committee have mentioned
Reade used the strongest language, and expressed him
self most bitterly.
"You have In America field for transations OF for
eign works. III England Is comparatively small We
hardly know Cherbuiez and Daudct IN English dress
You translate Turgcucf. short time ago. IN behalf
Of personI would have liked befriend and who had
Translated two three OF TurgcncGs novels, spoke
to a prominent London publisher In regard 10 intro
ducing them into the English market. The remunera-
ton expected by the translator exceedingly small
The answer that 1t would be folly. IL wouldn't paw
A translation OF on the Eve published, believe
with loss TO London publishers. but here TurgcneTs
novels seem to be a paying investment"
all In. IHIicOn,
favOrtesp
"'Brcad aud Cheese and Kisses, Blade o. Grass
and Joshua Marvel For the depletion OF character,
Solomon Isaacs IL the best and purely literary
effort the King Of No Land My Christmas stories have
q much larger circulation In England than my other
works. chiefly rs think, because hey are published n
@ cheaper form and seem adapted TO the season. Grin
was my first story published IN England, seven and
half years ago. Then came Joshua Marvel followed
by Blade o. Grass my first Christmas story, 10000
copies being sold"
Mr. Farjeon here showed the writer letter from his
publisher written in ls7 In regard TO the sale OF Blade
o. Grass The book Is not selling IN the ordinary
"since the appearance OF Blade o. Grass" cOntin
ued Mr.. FaIjeon "25 900 has been the lowest number
OF copies printed of any OF Christmas stories. Ny
chief desire has been cultivate sympathy for the
poor. Ny stories spring from my own observations
amorg the lower classes for have much Of London
life and London poor. have theory that In writing,
things happen OF themselves without the writer having
any foreknOwledge OF what is coming the paper.
The name, Blade O. Grass came one night while was
lying wake in bed gave 1t 20 the publishers although
had not yet elaborated any scheme other than TO con-
meet the idea Of blade OF grass with human being.
have received many letters Of thanks for my stories,
some of them asking for q sequel to Blade o. Grass.-to
know what really happened to her. Golden Grain Is,
in TRUTH the sequel. In the King Of No Land had
from the beginning very distinct idea as TO plot and
what I desired evolve in t0e Of events. II
be curious to note that character IL taken
from OOd growth, woods and flowers field and forest
life. This, however, was mapped out. Not
so with the characters In my other nov
els Blade o. Grass Island Pearl Golden Grain,
and King of No Land Of exactly the same length.
This Ia disadvantage I'm writing, but IL pleases the
publisher 10 know what TO count on. Some authors
write at stated hours In the dayusuay In the morning
then n aside until day. Now |