Word: readerly
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Dates: during 1873-1873
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Illustrations are a valuable embellishment in many kinds of books, and in scientific works are an absolute necessity. But to illustrate a novel is in bad taste. In fiction, where the appeal is mainly to the imagination of the reader, he ought to be allowed to figure the characters and incidents in his own mind without having his ideas shocked by the sketches of some misnamed "artist," who attempts to depict scenes of which he seems not to have the faintest conception. To illustrate a book to help the understanding is a useful field for the pencil, but to illustrate...
...begins, "Nature upon her tablet has written that silvery drops of rain must come from clouds, black and portentous," etc. The reader would here naturally expect some explanation, - what is the tablet? when was it? where was it? why and how did nature write? etc., - but no explanation is given. The writer hurries on, discovers that day is followed by night, stands beside the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, inspects the "remnant of Babylon," has a word for the Mede, another for the Persian, gets himself surrounded by the "tottering walls of the Coliseum," "hears" them crumble, notes, in passing...
...shows how large and active is the army of workers in the interest of science. So comprehensive a work could not be entirely free from error, but it is almost so. As a book of reference it is invaluable, and can be by no means uninteresting to the general reader...
...shows neither of these faults. It has all the vigor and novelty of a first attempt, and all the gracefulness and ease which only come after the writing of many books. In its hero Bulwer seems to be thoroughly at home, taking as much delight in him as any reader will do, and through him giving expression to the choicest bits of learning and wisdom which he had himself acquired throughout his long, busy, and thoughtful life. There is a picture in Punch of a little girl, discovering that her doll is stuffed with sawdust, exclaiming that the world...
...believe, always in order. Our attention has lately been drawn to the various comments, side notes, and cabalistic marks which spoil the appearance of many an interesting work; it surely ought to be borne in mind that one's private opinions cannot be of interest to the general reader. The present is also a proper time to suggest that books belonging to the Institute of 1770 should be returned immediately, in order that they may be arranged in the new room. It is very pleasant to accumulate a private library, but the books given to the Institute are not public...