The Project Gutenberg EBook of Methods of Authors, by Hugo Erichsen

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Title: Methods of Authors

Author: Hugo Erichsen

Release Date: May 11, 2010 [EBook #32328]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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METHODS OF AUTHORS

ERICHSEN

WP Co

COPYRIGHT, 1894,
BY WILLIAM H. HILLS.

_All Rights Reserved._

_To

R. E. FRANCILLON,

who is admired and loved by novel-readers on
both sides of the Atlantic,

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED,

by his permission, with sincere regard, by
the Author._

PREFACE.

When I began to gather the material for this volume I was quite doubtful
as to whether the public would be interested in a work of this kind or
not. As my labor progressed, however, it became evident that not only
the body of the people, but authors themselves, were deeply interested
in the subject, and would welcome a book treating of it. Not only M.
Jules Claretie, the celebrated Parisian literarian, but the late Dr.
Meissner and many others assured me of this fact.

Nor is this very surprising. Who, after reading a brilliant novel, or
some excellent treatise, would not like to know how it was written?

So far as I know, this volume is a novelty, and Ben Akiba is outwitted
for once. Books about authors have been published by the thousands, but
to my knowledge, up to date, none have been issued describing their
methods of work.

In the preparation of this book I have been greatly aided by the works
of Rev. Francis Jacox, an anonymous article in _All the Year Round_, and
R. E. Francillon's essay on "The Physiology of Authorship," which
appeared first in the _Gentleman's Magazine_.

I was also assisted in my labor by numerous newspaper clippings and many
letters from writers, whose names appear in this volume, and to all of
whom I return my sincere thanks.

H. E.
DETROIT, Mich.

CONTENTS.

I.