Literary Taste (1909)

I spotted this short little book on the shelves at our library and thought it would be an interesting read. There is no copyright date, but the type of paper used and the typeface hint that it was probably published between 1900 and 1920. I did find a 1909 bibliographic record for this work, so it's probably in the earlier part of the period. It was an interesting perspective to say the least. I loved some of the author's advice. He's given me the perfect excuse to go on a book-buying spree. On page 20, he advises his readers to "buy." He says, "Buy without any immediate reference to what you will read. Buy! Surround yourself with volumes, as handsome as you can afford." Later in the book he tells them (on page 88) to "Buy a library. It is obvious that you cannot read unless you have books . . . The moment has now come to inform you plainly that a bookman is, amongst other things, a man who possesses many books. A man who does not possess many books is not a bookman." The author does caution the reader against reading too much of the same kind of stuff. He encourages the reader to read short stories, essays, and poetry in addition to longer fictional works. He encourages the reader to read materials from all periods of literature, beginning with Chaucer and extending to the recently deceased. He does not have time to read contemporary literature, preferring to read what is tried and true. He gives a bibliography of 226 authors and 335 volumes which everyone should own. All of these can be had for the low price of $131.40 (12 cents per day for 3 years)! (If that were only true for us today!) I wonder what the author would think of Kindles and Nooks? While this book is extremely dated, it was an entertaining read. ( )

Bennett's writing is excellant, but the book is dated inasmuch as today's education, excuse me, "education" attempts are concerned. He uses Charles Lamb as a beginner or primer author to read. Today it would probably be J R. Rowling and Harry Potter. The sanguine tedium that constitutes the 18th and early 19th century just isn't read anymore. I keep it in my library as a treasure of book-making more than the content. ( )