Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Oliver Twist, And, Sketches by Boz
Now, as the stern and plain truth, even in the dress of this (in novels) much exalted race, was a part of the pur pose of this book, I will not, for these readers, abate one hole in the Dodger's coat, or one scrap of curl-paper in the girl's dishevelled hair. I have no faith in the delicacy which cannot bear to look upon them. I have no desire to make proselytes among such people. I have 'no respect for their opinion, good or bad; do not covet their approval; and do not write for their amusement. -i venture to say this without reserve; for I am not aware of any writer in our language having a respect for himself, or held in any respect by his posterity, who ever has descended to the taste of this fastidious class.
On the other hand, if I look for examples, and for prece dents, I find them in the noblest range of English litera ture. Fielding, De Foe, Goldsmith, Smollett, Richardson, Mackenzie - all these for wise purposes, and especially the two first, brought upon the scene the very scum and refuse of the land. Hogarth, the moralist, and censor of his age - in whose great works the Mes in which he lived, and the characters of every time, will never cease to be re?ected - did the like, without-the compromise of a hair's-breadth. Where does this giant stand now, in the estimation of his countrymen? And yet, if I turn back to the days in which he or any of these men ?ourished, I find the same reproach levelled against them every one; each in his turn; by the insects of the hour, who raised their little hum, and died and were forgotten.
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