Max Beerbohm and the Act of WritingMax Beerbohm was an elusive and marginal genius--marginal in the sense that he always assumed the role of parodist, looking in from the edges, and taking a literary position shunned by more mainstream artists. In this study of Max Beerbohm's writings and drawings, many of which are reproduced, Danson rediscovers Beerbohm in all his phases and transformations, from the relatively well-known Zuleika Dobson, Seven Men, and Rossetti and his Circle, to the previously unknown, abandoned novella The Mirror of the Past. He shows how Beerbohm's unusual essays turn into fiction as we read them, how his fiction turns into parody, his parody into criticism, his criticism into caricature, and his caricatures into essays--all the time remaining his own best literary caricature, the incomparable and impeccable "Max". |
Contents
Oxford Plates 6 7 13 Newberry Library Chicago Plate 31 | 1 |
sity of Texas at Austin Plates 11 29 Yale University Library Plate | 22 |
Forging a Classic | 35 |
Copyright | |
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actual appeared artist asked become begins called caricature character Christmas Garland claims comic copy creates criticism dandy distinct drawing Duke essay exist eyes face fact fiction figure friends George gives Hall hand Happy head Herringham human idea imagination imitation instance interest Italy James John later less letter Library literary live London look matter Max Beerbohm Max's means Merton College mirror never novel original Oscar Wilde Oxford parodist parody Past perfect personality Pethel play portrait pose present Press Princeton University published question reader reason Review Rossetti satire says seems sense Seven Shaw shows Soames story style suggests Taylor Collection tells Theatres thing thought Turner turns Whistler Wilde writing written wrote York young Zuleika Zuleika Dobson