SIX BEST NOVELS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 19

SIX BEST NOVELS.

A NOVELISTS' SYMPOSIUM. The "New York Times" lias'ibeen publishing lists of replies from distinguished novelists of America and Great Britain to the question, "Which in your opinion ate •the six best novels in the English, language?! . Below ere th» vlewe of four well known men. ME JOHN GAi/SWQRT!HY. I much regret feeling enable to answer your question, Which are the six best novels in the English language?—considering how a man's judgment changes, and that most of the best novels ihgve been read by him before he comes to years of literary discretion. Short of re-reading English and American notion in the next few days, I do not see now to arrive at a Judgment that is worth anything. CAJJON J. O. HANNAY C'George Birmingham.") I hesitate about giving an opinion as to which are the best six novels in the English language. To do so ttoulH involve mc in questions of literary criticism which I am really not competent to diseues. But I have no objection to telling yon which are my own favourite noyeli. This you will see commits mc to nothing more than a confession of my own personal tastes. There are several novels outside my list which I recognise as in every way great books, and there are authors who certainly stand higher In literary reputation than some of those whom 1 include. I find, however, that I do go back to read again some books by Anthony Trollope, whereas I do not, without a certain effort, re-read some of the greatest of George Meredith's and Thomas Hardy's works. I take it that this mac;er of re-reading Is the true test o£ fondness for a book. If I go back to it time after time, pick. It up on all sorts of odd occasions, I tftiuk, J mny fairly say that 1 am fond of the book. On this principle I offer yon the following list:— 1. "Rob Boy," by Walter Scott. 2. "John Inglesant," by •Shorthouse. 3. "Vanity Fair," by Thackeray. 4. "The Wreckers," by 'Stevenson. 5. "Barchester Towers," by Trollop*. 6. "The Moonstone," by Wllkie Coiling. As te the why of my preference, I can only suppose that my tastes are exceedingly childish, perhaips I ought to say boyish. There is only one of the books on my list which can be considered a great psychological study—"John Inglesant"—and Umt, I think, I like not for the sake of tbo psychology, iut because it Is the only first-rate novel known to mc of spiritual adventuring, and so I suppose attracts mc precisely as the romantic adventuring of some of the other books does. MB COSMO (HAMILTON. In my opinion, the best novels In the English language are as .follows, in the order in which I set them oat:— "Robinson Crusoe." "Westward •Hβ!" "Vanity Fair." "Ivanhoe." "Lorna Doone." "David Copperfleld." I place "Robinson Crusoe" first because, in addition to its amazing power as a etory and its grip of interest upon every of the Bible, the most perfect In English. It is written almost in Tvords of one syllable, -with a masterly simplicity and beauty and absence of "fine writing" which make it the text-book of novelists and a work for all time. The otiers fulfil all the laws that go to make novels live. First and foremost I they are romances—they tell stories of absorbing Interest. They axe big and broad and their characters and scenes are painted on -wide canvases. iHow much one would like to have been able to place "Kirn," "Treasure Island," "The Mill on the Floss," "The Custom of the Country," "The Dark Flower," and several others that have an honoured place in one's library—works of Thomas Hardy and Meredith and Julian "Hawthorne. Joseph Conrad, and Wells—in this list., Sβ far as modern novelists go, the times are all against immortality. We are not so much novelists to-day as journalsits. Our work Is to that of the novelist of fifty years ago what a clever stage manager's scenario Is to Sheridan's plays. It Is sketchy and vivid and sharp. We paint in colours that do not and are not intended to last We are dominated by the tyranny of the serial editor, to whom a "great" novel means a sensational novel, and who would fall dead at the fourth chapter of "Vanity Fair" or "Lorna Doone"—'Which, hy the way, was refused t>y every known publisher of those times. MR E. PHILLIPS OPPEN'HEIM. In reply to your inquiry, I would not presume to give even an opinion as to the best six novels in the English language. Although I recognise the fact that it is impossible for you to introduce this subject under any other guise, absolute selection of "the best" is a task from which the most competent critic might shrink. I am delighted, however, to give you the names of six novels which have appealed to mc a great deal for various reasons:— 1. "Adam Eede"—'because It Is an epic in the tragedy of primitive love-making. 2. "Anna Karenlna"—because It Is an epic in the tragedy of exotic love-making. 3. "Lorna Doone"—because of its topographical genius. 4. "Westward Ho!"—because it Is a ■brilliant and (inspired page of a particular period, brilliantly convincing in sentiment, passion, phraseology, end setting. 5. "Pendennls"—because Thackeray has succeeded in drawing the thread of humanity from the first chapter to the last, through a phantasmagoria of brilliant , satire. 6. "The Old Curiosity Shop"—because of Its sublime but never cloying pathos and Its tragedy which finds the Wackest places of life without sensationalism.