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Editorial
September 18, 1928
The Bismarck Tribune
Bismarck, Mandan, Burleigh County, Morton County, North Dakota
What is this article about?
A London publisher's global survey ranks Dickens as the top classic novelist, followed by Scott, Stevenson, and others including Mrs. Wood for East Lynne, surprising commentators who note the omission of Hawthorne, Fielding, and Cooper.
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MOST POPULAR NOVELISTS
(Worcester Gazette)
A London publisher, fired with the laudable ambition to know who is the most popular classic novelist, sent out questionnaires all over the world. Tabulating the answers, he finds that Dickens leads with Scott, Stevenson, Dumas, Thackeray, Eliot, Hugo, Kingsley, Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mrs. Wood and Charles Reade ranking in that order.
There is nothing sensational in this; but there is bound to be some lifting of eyebrows at the inclusion of Mrs. Wood and a shaking of heads—in America at least—at the omission of Nathaniel Hawthorne. That Dickens, Scott, Stevenson, Thackeray, Hugo, Dumas, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Reade, and even Charles Kingsley should maintain a measure of popularity can surprise nobody. But Mrs. Wood? Who is she?
Why, she's the author of East Lynne, to be sure: that hardy perennial on stage and center table. All in all she is the author of thirty-five novels, every one of them, save the everlasting East Lynne, dead as dead can be.
To moderns East Lynne must seem a fragile foundation for membership in such company, not to be compared with Tom Jones or Joseph Andrews whose hearty creator is not in the immortal dozen. And Cooper with his noble red men and philosophical backwoodsmen, do not any shreds of popularity still cover him?
(Worcester Gazette)
A London publisher, fired with the laudable ambition to know who is the most popular classic novelist, sent out questionnaires all over the world. Tabulating the answers, he finds that Dickens leads with Scott, Stevenson, Dumas, Thackeray, Eliot, Hugo, Kingsley, Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mrs. Wood and Charles Reade ranking in that order.
There is nothing sensational in this; but there is bound to be some lifting of eyebrows at the inclusion of Mrs. Wood and a shaking of heads—in America at least—at the omission of Nathaniel Hawthorne. That Dickens, Scott, Stevenson, Thackeray, Hugo, Dumas, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Reade, and even Charles Kingsley should maintain a measure of popularity can surprise nobody. But Mrs. Wood? Who is she?
Why, she's the author of East Lynne, to be sure: that hardy perennial on stage and center table. All in all she is the author of thirty-five novels, every one of them, save the everlasting East Lynne, dead as dead can be.
To moderns East Lynne must seem a fragile foundation for membership in such company, not to be compared with Tom Jones or Joseph Andrews whose hearty creator is not in the immortal dozen. And Cooper with his noble red men and philosophical backwoodsmen, do not any shreds of popularity still cover him?
What sub-type of article is it?
Literary Criticism
Popular Novelists
What keywords are associated?
Popular Novelists
Dickens
Mrs. Wood
East Lynne
Hawthorne Omission
Classic Literature
What entities or persons were involved?
Dickens
Scott
Stevenson
Dumas
Thackeray
Eliot
Hugo
Kingsley
Austen
Charlotte Bronte
Mrs. Wood
Charles Reade
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fielding
Cooper
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Ranking Of Most Popular Classic Novelists
Stance / Tone
Surprised At Inclusions And Omissions
Key Figures
Dickens
Scott
Stevenson
Dumas
Thackeray
Eliot
Hugo
Kingsley
Austen
Charlotte Bronte
Mrs. Wood
Charles Reade
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fielding
Cooper
Key Arguments
Dickens Leads In Popularity Survey
Inclusion Of Mrs. Wood Surprising
Omission Of Hawthorne Notable In America
Mrs. Wood Known For East Lynne
Other Novelists Like Fielding And Cooper Also Omitted