Literary Criticism

"Why do I write? consists of a number of letters exchanged by three novelists, Elizabeth Bowen, Graham Greene and V.S. Pritchett. The revolutionary changes of the last thirty years or more have profoundly affected the lives of and the work of everyone and have, especially, called for an increasing contribution of life and spirit to the modern Caesars. The object of these letters is to discover what the artist, or more precisely the writer, ought to contribute; when he ought to refuse; what his relation to other people is. Has the writer special duties; ought he to have privileges; what is his social function; ought he to be bound to churches, parties, groups of any kind, and if so, how is he bound? Has society or the State any obligations to him? In a changing world these questions are continually debated, but it has seemed to the writers of this book that the discussion has inevitably drifted farther and father away from the individual instance into vague generalities, or the injunctions of propaganda. By the informal, personal, intimate approach of the personal letter, this book is an attempt to disentangle its subject from party views, to lift it out of the blueprint, to explore and not to lay down the law." (Quote from inside front jacket blurb)

London: Percival Marshall, 1948. Scarce first edition. Dust jacket in protective cover; top of spine has a 1.5" tear; rear cover soiled; edges worn; red and white striped design on paper boards; 1.5" tear at top edge near spine; binding tight; text clean. G/G-