The New York herald., 1922-06-18
Says 1t Is Time for English
Critics to Cease Patron
izing Attitude.
CITES EIGHTEEN AUTHORS
Have Given Language as Dis
tinct From English as Is
French.

Special Gable to THE NEw YORK HERALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
London. June II.
There is a great deal of truth in the
statement of Sinclair Lewis, author OF
Main Street" that a new American
literature has arisen and that it is
time for English critics and readers
to cease their patronizing attitude. ac-
cording to Hugh Walpole, the eminent
English novelist. who asserts that
there is a new American literature.
For the first time perhaps in the
history of the United States" says
Mr.. Walpole, "there is a literature in
existence as completely independent
of British influence as is the con-
temporary French, German and ltal-
ian literature. Brockden Brown and
James Fenimore Cooper were not so
independent Emerson, Longfellow
and Hawthorne were not so independ-
ent. Henry James, Howells. even
Mark Twain. we're not. o. Henry, yes
and he is the true father Of this new
literature.
Nj Walpole says that the question
is lttAlN N. EGllN AhA ot't NAiN
the frior nip of the two countries at
heart. a. adds that literature more
than politics can unite peoples in these
uncertain days land there should be
no unevenness OF exchange In the worid
of literature, however 1t may be In the
world of finance"
In reviewing American fiction he de-
clares that he will not say anything or
the older generation of living Americans
like Booth Harrington, Edith wharton,
Ellen Glasgow and Gertrude Atherton,
because they have nothing TO do with
this new movement. He names six
prominent younger American novelsts
who he says are definitely part of this
movement, these being Joseph Herges-
heimer. Villa s. Gather. Sinclair Lewis.
Sherwood Anderson, Floyd Dell and
Scott Fitzgerald. For the poets he
names Nicholas Voshell Lindsay. Carl
Sandburg. Robert Frost, Edgar Lee
Masters and Amy Lowell. In the class
of essayists and critics he places Hey
wood Broun. Waldo Frank Don Mar
and II. L. Menckeu.
There is I'm these men and women
sufficient force to strengthen and prove
admirably the truth Of Lewis's conten-
tion." Walpole continues. From the
novelists / have omitted Cabell because
he Is in no way representative of the
new movem ant. but rather a writer of
ella borate cultured prose with ro-
mantle Old World vision OF life. OF the
poets ] have omitted Robinson. perhaps
the best of them all, for the same rea-
SON"
Walpole adds that these writers have
given not only a new literature. but also
new language as distinct from the
English as FIR snch and Italian litera-
! ture is distinct. and continues: From
o. Henry to Floyd Dell is but little
passage Of time. but a remarkable event
In literature. Lewis wss right. We Brit
ish can patronze no longer
1T is time we began TO read Ameri-
can contemporary literature from an
American standpoint as we read French
literature from a French standpoint.
Let us realize that this is foreign lam
guage that faces US. and a difficult for
eign language at that: that we are hav-
! ing offered us new presentation os
new life-a new life that Is certain 10
play an immense part in the develop
ment of the New World II is urgently
necessary for us TO understand this"