was happy to take up the challenge to reviewers with which Robert Bage opened

(2 vols, 1782), his first novel. “Books of this class are printed, published, bought, read, and deposited in the lumber garret, three months before the Reviewers say a syllable of the matter,” Bage wrote coolly in his preface (1: vii), explaining to reviewers why their disdainful attacks on novels were unnecessary. Defending his calling, the

reviewer retorted, “Was there ever a work like the present, that even in the fulness of their spite, [reviewers] were so unjust or so foolish as to pronounce destitute of ‘wit, humour, plot, character or keeping?’ Let him point it out – if he can” (vol. 66 [Feb., 1782], 129). With this slightly convoluted compliment, the…

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Citation: Perkins, Pam. "Mount Henneth". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 October 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3429, accessed 25 November 2024.]