We are convinced that some writers have diminished the
effect of their works by being scrupulous to admit nothing into them
which had not some absolute and independent merit. They have acted like
those who strip off the leaves of a fruit tree, as being of themselves
good for nothing, with the view of securing more nourishment to the
fruit, which in fact cannot attain its full maturity and flavour without
them.'
The world, I think, has endorsed the opinion of the later writer; but it
would not be fair to set down the discrepancy between the two entirely to
the discredit of the former. The fact is that, in the course of the
intervening five years, these works had been read and reread by many
leaders in the literary world. The public taste was forming itself all
this time, and 'grew by what it fed on.' These novels belong to a class
which gain rather than lose by frequent perusals, and it is probable that
each Reviewer represented fairly enough the prevailing opinions of
readers in the year when each wrote.
Since that time, the testimonies in favour of Jane Austen's works have
been continual and almost unanimous.
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