Have you seen this monstrosity? (584 pages of reviews)
Update for Success is a Bitch:
It is impossible that it could be true and therefore it is without real value.
Letter from the editor answering Typee, 1846.
Does anybody know, exactly which — obviously British — editor rejected Melville’s Moby-Dick manuscript by the words:
We regret to say that our united opinion is entirely against the book as we do not think it would be at all suitable for the Juvenile Market in this country. It is very long, rather old-fashioned, and in our opinion not deserving of the reputation which it seems to enjoy.
?
In more modern times, the “juvenile market” is as well assumed by Buzz:
Every now and again, I like to read a classic just to see why it’s so, well, classic., I recently read Dracula (which I liked), The Picture of Dorian Gray (which I didn’t like) and The Three Musketeers (which I really liked). My latest classic pickup is Moby Dick, by Herman Melville.
Oh. My. God.
Have you seen this monstrosity? I just checked and it has ONE MILLION PAGES!!! And nary a picture to be found! Where the hell is Evelyn Wood when you need her.
Oh wait, you guys are way too young to remember Evelyn Wood, arent’ you?
Damn, I’m old.
*sigh*
If anybody knows anything about the more vintage editor, or has been ready to pay the 169.99 Euros on the German, utter unjuvenile market for Melville’s contemporary reviews, or even is Mr. Hershel Parker or somebody of his size, please comment.
Images: Brian Higgins and Hershel Parker: Herman Melville, The Contemporary Reviews, 1995;
Buzz: Call me Buzz-mael, December 9, 2006.
Soundtrack: Brett Dennen: Ain’t No Reason from: So Much More, 2006.
