The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-01
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Sprinstimc and Harvest, with the
~ndc OF the Author.

The author OF this story. Upton j. Sin
clair. tells in n preface how II came 10 be
written. and I'm order that some persons
who may not see the book may read what
he says about il n part OF his statement Is
copied: " 'Springtime and Harvest he
says. us published under peculiar circum-
stances, about which the author desires
that the reader should know. Because the
work is one with his life and the hope of
1t is his ideal. he cannot accomplish his
purpose without telling about himself. IL
is with a high aim that he INDUCES in this
egotism. The author is twenty-five years of
age; seven years ago he had made up his
mind that his business in the world was TO
be a novelist. He has always been an in
tense worker, living in seclusion and given
every minute Of his life to study. He has
a whole trunkful OF bad manuscripts, and
enough Juvenile stories published 10 fill a
score OF large volumes, stories which served
10 keep him alive, while he studied to mt
himself for deeper work. For three years
ne mad been dreaming OF a novel which
he might write when he was strong. Last
spring, because his heart was shaken with
the beauty of Ii, he went away TO wrestle
with his vision. Because he knew he had
10 give all his soul to the labor, he cut
himself off absolutely from the world
found a little cabin in the wilds of Quebec,
where Tor I'VE months he nNcu enNlTSly
alone. doing a work so fearful that now,
as he locks back upon 1t, il makes him
tremble. Each day as he wrought at his
story the wonder of it took hold of him
more and more, until il took the form of
a very demon of beauty that dashed him
and would not let him rest. He burnt out
his soul at this work; he laboreo until he
was worn and wild: he wrote sometimes
sixteen hours a day. and he lived his life
upon his knees before his vision, writing ii
as a man writes a lyric poem, learning
every word Of ii by heart in his hours of
insight. When at last he had finished, he
could have wept for JOY because he was
free; he knew that he haG made Spring
time and Harvest the highest thing of
which his soul was capable. He came back
10 the city not only very hungry and worn
from his Ions camping, but also very poor.
To be sure. he had not written his book for
money, but he believed that he had earned
his freedom by his toll, and it was with
joy and certainty that he sent his book TO
a publisher Then came a reaction from
the period OF exaltation in which the story
I had been written. The author frankly con-
fesses that it was rejected by one publisher
after another. 1T went to four altogether,
and il brought him only misery and sus-
pense." Finally he determined to publish
the book himself. The publishers had de-
clined Ii for mercenary reasons, he would
publish 1t in the interest Of art. His
heart he says, was still with his book.
and all his soul was on fire against the
commercial judgments he received" In de-
termining 10 publish his story himself he
says: He desires to ask no favors of and
bring no profits to any private money
making concern, and to keep his book a
thing of art to the end" He has deter
mined 10 devote the proceeds of the book to
founding a library which shall contain
the best books, and the best only" and be
as free as air. Those who are DESTROYS of
reading a story born under such remark
able circumstances as those above related
will. of course. wish to aid in founding the
| library. 1t would be unfair to destroy their
pleasure by outlining the story. even il
| that were possible. There Is a frOntiSpipre
picture of a log cabin. presumably the one
where the author spent five months in
solitude, burning out his soul over the
book and ~laboring until he was worn and
wild. 'Springtime and Harvest is not
handled by bookdealers or agents. but may
be ordered by mail of the Sinclair Press,
Postofice Box 1881 New York city. and will
be sent postage paid on receipt of $3.50.
The Journal makes this rather unusual
announcement in the interest of the pros
| pective library.