New-York tribune., 1922-01-15

~ rRO MlNENI | Librarian recently
~ wrote US a most interesting
II "a letter, fattering in its com
mendation, because G. P. Putnam's S
Sons had rejected "The Sheik" when
that now well-known book was offered.
The next day an irate bookseller wrote
IN vociferous condemnation Of the pub
Usher who had so fagrantly violated
all the traditional decency Of his out
put by permitting Erik Dorm" to bear
his imprint.
1t has happened that both "The
Shelk' and Erik Dorm" have developed
into successful novels, with the former
even more SO. The question naturally
arises, BY what process Of reasoning
was "The Sheik" rejected and Erik
Dorm" accepted. Both manuscripts
were read by the same editorial staff
and both were subjected to the same
standard which determines the ac-
ceptablity Of our publications..
In our retail store, the customers Of
which comprise the most intelligent
and cultivated people of New York
City, the sale of "The Sheik" has been
very large. We have been obliged to
recorder constantly. The critics, too,
have shown the book marked considera-
, tion. The same may be said, in 81
slightly lesser degree, OF erik Dorm"
People whose tastes are obviously
hostile to the indecent have found in
"Erik Dom" work Of deep intercst.
We have heard people praise one and
denounce the other, but the raost care
flu, observation has failed utterly to
classify those whose preferences were
stronger in either direction.
Is it true That the publisher can 70
longer allow his personal preference to
influence him in considering first
novels. Can he exercise more than
cursory discrimination in deciding
the type of book to offer to q public
which proves its tastes by making "If
panions in its libraries and close neigh
bors Of Eminent Victorians" and The
Mirrors Of Washington? The Sheik"
has been called indecent. immoral and
degenerate. The identical adjectives
in the identical ordor have been ap-
piled TO erik Dorm" by a critic who
went into raptures over "Tho Sheik."
In the mean time Hull and Hecht are
prospcriug and becoming famous.
1t is significant that most Of the
book reviewers whose names carry
weight with the reading public hailed
Erik Dorm" as notable first novel
and acclaimed Ben Hccht as a coming
man in American literature. For cx-
ample, one reviewer said that twenty
five years hence, when most Of the
books Of the day are forgotten, this
novel would be sought out and read.
"The New York Evening Post" ad-
mittedly one of the most conservative
and reputable newspapers of the coun-
try and one that definitely stands for
the decent in literature and The drama,
carried 4 column and a half review,
signed by one of the leading members
of it's staff, in which just as strongly
favorable language was ased.
If book reviewers speak with au-
thorty, we were eminently justified in
accepting ERIK Dorm" for publica-
ton; in fact, we might have been held
as being remiss in our duty to the pub
lie if we had decided to reject the
first work Of an undoubted genius
on the ground that it was immoral or
suggestive. Obviously Erik Dorm" is
not a book to be placed in the hands
of immature readers. This is true OF
much fiction of the day; it is true OF
some of the classics Of literature. What