Portrait by J. H. Thompson First novels can be hit-and-miss, even those of "great authors." Nathaniel Hawthorne was so ashamed of Fanshawe he wanted all copies burnt. Jane Austen's Love and Friendship , written in her teens, did not (unsurprisingly) carry the depth and drama of her later, famous novels. Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet , is arguably one of the weaker of the four. While some talented authors debut a masterpiece, it's as equally likely that their first book is not their best. All of this goes to show that 1) no one is born a great novelist, and 2) it is worthwhile to keep trying, even if your first writing is highly flawed. The Professor was Charlotte Bronte's first novel but not published until after her death. It has a very similar plot to Villette (1853), and it's best read as a first draft of that superior novel. Unfortunately, this is still insufficient for enjoying the book, because it's just ...
Comments