ISBN: 9781145997646

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www. million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III… More...

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www. million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. REALITY AND REALISM Twenty years ago the terms realism and romanticism brought to mind such a contrast as that between The Rise of Silas Lapham and The Prisoner of Zenda. Two decades of controversial usage have so distorted the original connotations that these words are now more suggestive of the Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www. million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. REALITY AND REALISM Twenty years ago the terms realism and romanticism brought to mind such a contrast as that between The Rise of Silas Lapham and The Prisoner of Zenda. Two decades of controversial usage have so distorted the original connotations that these words are now more suggestive of the distinction between Maxim Gorky and Zane Grey. Underlying this change is an apparently simple reasoning. Realism deals with real life; real life is sordid, vile and tragic. Therefore, whatever is sordid, vile and tragic (and nothing else) is realism. The fallacy is plain enough. The minor premise is true; but it is only a portion of the truth. The aspect of life which is not tragedy is none the less fit material for realistic portrayal. One does not need to deny that life is sordid. It is enough to show that it is not always sordid. The accurate picture will show light. as well as darkness. Nay, even light itself need not exist. A mere belief in it makes it necessary to the picture. The ability to conceive of light negatives utter darkness, and the continued existence of but a single optimist disproves pessimism. De Morgan by his life no less than by his novels controverts the modern pessimistic obsession. That a mancan live to sixty-five years, experiencing ill-health, bereavement and long struggle with adverse conditions, and yet retain a sound and cheerful outlook upon life and a sympathetic belief in his fellows, is a fact of profound significance. The cynic will deny that there is reason for his attitude. He tells us the sympathy is blinded, the cheerfulness indefensible. But reasonable or not, the attitude exists, and in its mere existence refutes its critics. Decry the optimist as you will, you can not absolutely deny him. Happiness may be nonexistent; but it is n Books, Biography & Autobiography~~General, William-de-Morgan~~Flora-Warren-Seymour, 999999999, William De Morgan, Flora Warren Seymour, 1145997643, Nabu Press, , , , , Nabu Press<

ISBN: 9781145997646

Paperback, [PU: Nabu Press], This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled… More...

Paperback, [PU: Nabu Press], This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.<

2010, ISBN: 9781145997646

Paperback, Neubuch, This item is printed on demand. This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographi… More...

Paperback, Neubuch, This item is printed on demand. This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as miss., [PU: NABU PR]<

2010, ISBN: 9781145997646

Paperback, Neubuch, This item is printed on demand. This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographi… More...

Paperback, Neubuch, This item is printed on demand. This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as miss., [PU: NABU PR]<