The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
in THE LITERARY FIELD
WRITERS OF PROBLEM NOVELS DIS
Outraged By PUBLISHERS.
American History to Be Done in Ffc-
tiOn by Churchill-Reiation OF
and Editors.

A few weeks ago a well-known writer
submitted TO a publisher a manuscript
novel dealing in a dignihed and serious way
with the sex problem, says the New YORK
Times. He received back the manuscript
with this note: are sorry TO refuse the
work Of a man Of your standing and skill.
From the point of view of workmanship
we have no fault TO find with this story
But, in spite Of our keen desire to have
your name on our list. we cannot reverse
our policy never to publish a book deal
ing with a painful. or with what many OF
our readers would call an Objectionable,
theme" Since that time the writer has
offered the manuscript to two other pub
fishers. both OF whom have refused 1t
for the reasons that caused its refusal
in the first Instance. He has since dis
cussed the manuscript with other publish
ers, frankly stating his experience, and
hey nave all told him that they would en-
terrain the same objections. So he has
locked his manuscript in a drawer and he
has begun a new novel in which he pur-
poses to deal. as he says, with "a comedy
plot in a comedy spirit"
Now this experience is interesting, be-
cause it is typical OF present-day condi-
lions. Our publishers are seeking on all
sides for wholesome stories, dealing OPP
timistically with life and reaching happy
conclusions. The reaction against the prob
lem story is complete, a direct consequence
of the popularity of the new romantic
novel which almost inevitably maintains a
hopeful outlook. In seeking out the popu-
lar novels of the day readers may IeeI
sure that they are not going TO be dis
pirited or depressed. Never has our liter
allure brought better cheer. For their Wig
lance in this regard our publishers de-
serve appreciation.
But, on the whole, is this limiting of the
field of literature profitable? Is it unlikely
that IL crowds out books OF perhaps as
great a value as the romantic novels, If
not of more value? Suppose that the pub
Usher Of the past had been as severe as the
publisher of to-day! 1t would be suggestive
come under his disapprOval. Under such
conditions we might have been kept from
reading oliver Twist, Adam Bede and
Anna Karenina, TO mention only a lew
Of the books that have been enjoyed by
thousands of readers. Then, too, there are
many readers in this country who have no
interest in books deliberately written TO
meet a tendency or to create good cheer.
They take their fiction seriously and like
to see life treated in an impartial spirit.
To such readers the sunny stories or the
day seem like Sunday-schoo ncuon. 1t Is
too young for them, too biased, too mac
curate. One critic, who deploreS the pres
ent limitations of the publishers, declares
that most Of the popular modern fiction
has mo relation to human life" If this
condition reveals one of the results OF me
publishers vigilance il must certainly be
regarded as a severe arraignment. Litera-
ture. TO be good, TO be vital. TO be even
wholesome. must have its roots IN human
life. As soon as it gives willfully distorted
views of life it becomes second rate, in
many cases frankly dishonest There has
probably never been a period in the history
Of our fiction when there was so much in
sincere writing as there is now. writing
based not on living models, but on other
successful books. and written merely TO
appeal to popular tastes and prejudices.