Rotten Reviews: A Literary Companion

by Bill Henderson

Gathers brief quotations from unfavorable reviews of standard classics of American, British, and European literature

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Books About Books

93 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Bill Henderson (born April 5, 1941) is an American author, editor and publisher best known for his memoirs and the Pushcart Prize series.

Reviews

[Paul Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Robert Hale Limited] (1987). HB/DJ. 93 Pages.

Bill Henderson, is of the opinion that he’s gathered a collection of reviews which have been proven ‘incorrect’.

This is true in only a small minority of cases. Lord Byron (1814), for example, stated (in a private letter) that “…Shakespeare’s name… stands absurdly too high and will go down…”

In the same year, James Dunlop saw - in “Gulliver’s Travels” - “…evidence of a diseased mind and lacerated heart.” Fair enough. Amusing, to me.

I suppose that, as I venerate “The Third Policeman” and found “For Whom the Bell Tolls” to be insufferable dross, I’m batting 0.5 because the latter opinion is invalid (i.e. somewhat contrarian).

[David]

Read many years ago. Almost forgotten until I saw Catherine Mason reading it backstage in a show we’re both in.

[Donald Schopflocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad to say, I agreed with some of these…

[Catherine Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing book to pass the time of reviews of mostly well-known books and writers.

[Brian Doak Carlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slim volume bought secondhand which raised some laugh out loud chuckles in the one hour read.

Coleridge on Edward Gibbon “Gibbon’s style is detestable; but is not the worst thing about him.”

[Bob Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting review of interesting reviews.

[John Geddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little reference book to remind you that nobody is universally loved.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you write, and are bold enough to scatter your prose to the four winds, you'll eventually get a bad review somehow, somewhere, from some schmuck. It's nice to prepare yourself for that day by nibbling on rotten reviews that have been lobbed at some of history's finest writers, and others.

I rather like this book. I pick it up once in a while and am always amused. It's not a tome to read cover-to-cover at one sitting. You might want to keep your copy in the loo or on the nightstand, so you can dip into it and be uplifted when you're feeling a trifle blue about your own mediocre reviews.

Maybe you'll get off more lightly than Shakespeare did when Pepys said of a "Midsummer Night's Dream": the most insipid, ridiculous play that I ever saw in my life. Pffft! And you wonder the thing is never performed any more. ;-)

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pull quotes/notes
UNCLE VANYA
ANTON CHEKHOV
PERFORMED IN NEW YORK, 1949
If you were to ask me what Uncle Vanya is about, I would say about as much as I can take.
Robert Garland, Journal American
(28)

"... for many persons, tired of ordinary life, have been known to seek amusement courting nightmares.
The Bookman" (40) referring to Faulkner's Light in August
I just love this phrase

"FINNEGANS WAKE
JAMES JOYCE
1939
As one tortures one's way through Finnegans Wake an impression grows that Joyce has lost his hold on human life. Obsessed by a spaceless and timeless void, he has outrun himself. We begin to feel that his very freedom to say anything has become a compulsion to say nothing.
Alfred Kazin, New York Herald Tribune" (54)

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who'd be a reviewer? As one, it is easy to upset the author because they generally do not take kindly to criticism, even if it deserved. And it is also not too difficult to find that readers soon distrust you because they may not agree with your views. So it can be a thankless task!

The authors of the reviews in this book were obviously not bothered either way because there are some scathing reviews even of some of the greats of English Literature, some of whom have reacted in an unprofessional way.

'Rotten Reviews' is an eye-opening read but it is probably advisable to form one's own style of reviewing rather than follow some of the examples within its covers.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone, it seems, even the most-lauded and greatest read, seem to have suffered the slings of reviewers, especially by those with axes to grind. Many are mean spirited and often dead wrong, but I like the ones with a little bit of wit, a saucy turn of phrase. I recall an excellent review once by a writer who gave his remarks on one Twain book as if he were the main character in one of Twain's other classics (I can't remember which), and it was hilarious. Some really interesting comments here, and I guess one could take solice in the fact that even the best fall before the critic's pen.

[Jill Edmondson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of liked this... the content is right up my alley (see above), and there was much that was amusing and/or interesting, but there are two problems with this book: no table of contents and no index. Still, it's a good bathroom book.

[Margit]

An entertaining read that puts criticism in perspective. The cartoons are great, too. Every novel covered is over 50 years old, though, including many classics that are required high school reading. A more modern edition would be appealing to me.

[Juneko Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious and a great way to help keep your spirits up and keep things in perspective when you've been rejected by numerous publishers time and time again.