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How to Fail in Literature: A Lecture
""How to Fail in A Lecture by Lang, Andrew"" is a book that offers a humorous take on the art of writing and the pitfalls that aspiring writers often face. Written by the Scottish author and literary critic Andrew Lang, the book is presented as a lecture that Lang delivers to a group of aspiring writers. Throughout the lecture, Lang offers advice on how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls in writing, while also poking fun at some of the more absurd aspects of the literary world. The book is filled with witty observations, amusing anecdotes, and Lang's trademark dry humor, making it an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in the art of writing. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, ""How to Fail in Literature"" is sure to provide you with plenty of laughs and insights into the world of literature.1890. While best known for his translations of classical literature and as a collector of folk and fairy tales, Lang also wrote poetry, biographies, histories, novels, literary criticisms and even children�������s books. This lecture was delivered at the South Kensington Museum, in aid of the College for Working Men and Women. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
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About the author
Andrew Lang
1,824 books555 followersTales of the Scottish writer and anthropologist Andrew Lang include
The Blue Fairy Book
(1889).
Andrew Gabriel Lang, a prolific Scotsman of letters, contributed poetry, novels, literary criticism, and collected now best folklore.
The Young Scholar and Journalist
Andrew Gabriel Lang, the son of the town clerk and the eldest of eight children, lived in Selkirk in the Scottish borderlands. The wild and beautiful landscape of childhood greatly affected the youth and inspired a lifelong love of the outdoors and a fascination with local folklore and history. Charles Edward Stuart and Robert I the Bruce surrounded him in the borders, a rich area in history. He later achieved his literary Short History of Scotland .
A gifted student and avid reader, Lang went to the prestigious Saint Andrews University, which now holds a lecture series in his honor every few years, and then to Balliol College, Oxford. He later published Oxford: Brief Historical and Descriptive Notes about the city in 1880.
Moving to London at the age of 31 years in 1875 as an already published poet, he started working as a journalist. His dry sense of humor, style, and huge array of interests made him a popular editor and columnist quickly for The Daily Post, Time magazine and Fortnightly Review. Whilst working in London, he met and married Leonora Blanche Alleyne Lang, his wife.
Interest in myths and folklore continued as he and Leonora traveled through France and Italy to hear local legends, from which came the most famous The Rainbow Fairy Books . In the late 19th century, interest in the native stories declined and very few persons recounting them for young readers. In fact, some educationalists attacked harmful magical stories in general to children. To challenge this notion, Lang first began collecting stories for the first of his colored volumes.
Lang gathered already recorded stories, while other folklorists collected stories directly from source. He used his time to collect a much greater breadth over the world from Jacob Grimm, his brother, Madame d'Aulnoy, and other less well sources.
Lang also worked as the editor, often credited as its sole creator for his work despite the essential support of his wife, who transcribed and organised the translation of the text, to the success.
He published to wide acclaim. The beautiful illustrations and magic captivated the minds of children and adults alike. The success first allowed Lang and Leonora to carry on their research and in 1890 to publish a much larger print run of The Red Fairy Book , which drew on even more sources. Between 1889 and 1910, they published twelve collections, which, each with a different colored binding, collected, edited and translated a total of 437 stories. Lang, credited with reviving interest in folklore, more importantly revolutionized the Victorian view and inspired generations of parents to begin reading them to children once more.
Last Works
Lang produced and at the same time continued a wide assortment of novels, literary criticism, articles, and poetry. As Anita Silvey, literary critic, however, noted, "The irony of Lang's life and work is that although he wrote for a profession... he is best recognized for the works he did not write," the folk stories that he collected.
He finished not the last Highways and Byways of the Border but died.
Andrew Gabriel Lang, a prolific Scotsman of letters, contributed poetry, novels, literary criticism, and collected now best folklore.
The Young Scholar and Journalist
Andrew Gabriel Lang, the son of the town clerk and the eldest of eight children, lived in Selkirk in the Scottish borderlands. The wild and beautiful landscape of childhood greatly affected the youth and inspired a lifelong love of the outdoors and a fascination with local folklore and history. Charles Edward Stuart and Robert I the Bruce surrounded him in the borders, a rich area in history. He later achieved his literary Short History of Scotland .
A gifted student and avid reader, Lang went to the prestigious Saint Andrews University, which now holds a lecture series in his honor every few years, and then to Balliol College, Oxford. He later published Oxford: Brief Historical and Descriptive Notes about the city in 1880.
Moving to London at the age of 31 years in 1875 as an already published poet, he started working as a journalist. His dry sense of humor, style, and huge array of interests made him a popular editor and columnist quickly for The Daily Post, Time magazine and Fortnightly Review. Whilst working in London, he met and married Leonora Blanche Alleyne Lang, his wife.
Interest in myths and folklore continued as he and Leonora traveled through France and Italy to hear local legends, from which came the most famous The Rainbow Fairy Books . In the late 19th century, interest in the native stories declined and very few persons recounting them for young readers. In fact, some educationalists attacked harmful magical stories in general to children. To challenge this notion, Lang first began collecting stories for the first of his colored volumes.
Lang gathered already recorded stories, while other folklorists collected stories directly from source. He used his time to collect a much greater breadth over the world from Jacob Grimm, his brother, Madame d'Aulnoy, and other less well sources.
Lang also worked as the editor, often credited as its sole creator for his work despite the essential support of his wife, who transcribed and organised the translation of the text, to the success.
He published to wide acclaim. The beautiful illustrations and magic captivated the minds of children and adults alike. The success first allowed Lang and Leonora to carry on their research and in 1890 to publish a much larger print run of The Red Fairy Book , which drew on even more sources. Between 1889 and 1910, they published twelve collections, which, each with a different colored binding, collected, edited and translated a total of 437 stories. Lang, credited with reviving interest in folklore, more importantly revolutionized the Victorian view and inspired generations of parents to begin reading them to children once more.
Last Works
Lang produced and at the same time continued a wide assortment of novels, literary criticism, articles, and poetry. As Anita Silvey, literary critic, however, noted, "The irony of Lang's life and work is that although he wrote for a profession... he is best recognized for the works he did not write," the folk stories that he collected.
He finished not the last Highways and Byways of the Border but died.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 3, 2016
Oh Mr Lang, if you were alive now.
September 3, 2020
Tongue firmly in cheek. In the end, he turns his advice around, in case one might seek to succeed instead. His example of success is, however, sweetly poignant.
October 2, 2024
This is a delightfully funny, insightful, and, in the end, poignant lecture. Lots of good advice presented in a really fun way. His Awful Examples of poetry are absolute gems.
December 28, 2024
Einblick in den viktorianischen Literaturbetrieb mit sämtlichen Optionen zu scheitern. Hatte mir eine humorvollere Präsentation davon versprochen.
November 22, 2023
Το διάβασα πρώτη φορά το 2002 και το ξαναδιάβασα τώρα, με αφορμή ένα ξεκαθάρισμα που κάνω στη βιβλιοθήκη μου. Βιτριολικό χιούμορ που απευθύνεται σε βιβλιολάτρες, (επίδοξους) συγγραφείς κι (επίδοξους) κριτικούς της λογοτεχνίας...
September 3, 2013
The humour employed by Mr. Lang in this lecture is enjoyable, and his observations on the process of writing and literature, if occasionally leaning more towards caricature than realism, are astute and refreshing. At times the writing itself is obtuse, but not so much that it prevents the comprehension of a focused reader, especially if that reader is already familiar with more archaic modes of expression. While the transition between the introduction and the body of the lecture did not sustain the smoothness of flow that it might have, this is easily excused when one considers that the lecture was given first as a speech and then presented as literature, and statements that might in writing be somewhat difficult to follow are lent a certain clarity when accompanied by the expression and inflection of the speaker.
His points are well made, and, while a skilled writer may not necessarily find his observations unfamiliar, there is something to be gleaned for those at various levels of advancement, whether it be instruction for the novice or entertainment and encouragement for those adept in the art.
**It bears mentioning that this is one of those rare pieces I have encountered which correctly employs the word 'otiose'; that fact alone, despite the word having been more commonly used in the time of the lecture's writing, merits some form of positive feedback.
His points are well made, and, while a skilled writer may not necessarily find his observations unfamiliar, there is something to be gleaned for those at various levels of advancement, whether it be instruction for the novice or entertainment and encouragement for those adept in the art.
**It bears mentioning that this is one of those rare pieces I have encountered which correctly employs the word 'otiose'; that fact alone, despite the word having been more commonly used in the time of the lecture's writing, merits some form of positive feedback.
May 29, 2017
I'm not sure if I should feel comforted or sad that not much has changed in the world of writing in the past 125 years. Much of what Lang wrote about as examples of how to fail in literature are still incredibly relevant today.
For instance - Lang suggests hopping on bandwagons and copying whatever the latest popular trend is, rather than trying something new and original. While you may have some small monetary success, you're sure to not be remembered outside of the several dozen other stories exactly like your own!
Or, you can use as many adjectives as humanly possible to describe everything. Drowning your writing in purple prose is a wonderful gateway to failure.
Or - one of my personal favorite examples - if you can't get a publisher to accept your manuscript, send it to any author you have any sort of tenuous connection to, and tell them to send it to a publisher for you! This will ensure that your manuscript never sees the light of day, let alone a publisher, and you may rest easy in your failure.
Lang even has advice for professional reviewers who are looking to fail. Let it not be said that the man was exclusive with his advice.
For instance - Lang suggests hopping on bandwagons and copying whatever the latest popular trend is, rather than trying something new and original. While you may have some small monetary success, you're sure to not be remembered outside of the several dozen other stories exactly like your own!
Or, you can use as many adjectives as humanly possible to describe everything. Drowning your writing in purple prose is a wonderful gateway to failure.
Or - one of my personal favorite examples - if you can't get a publisher to accept your manuscript, send it to any author you have any sort of tenuous connection to, and tell them to send it to a publisher for you! This will ensure that your manuscript never sees the light of day, let alone a publisher, and you may rest easy in your failure.
Lang even has advice for professional reviewers who are looking to fail. Let it not be said that the man was exclusive with his advice.
March 13, 2016
2 αστερακια
εξυπνος τιτλος κ εξυπνος τροπος να σε κανει να καταλαβεις τι πρεπει ναποφυγεις,
με μια δοση χιουμορ κ σαρκασμου,
ομως εχω διαβασει ακλυτερα βιβλια του ειδους! με ουσιαστικες-πρακτικες συμβουλες
πχ δεν θεωρω συμβουλη (την οποια πληρωσα βιβλιο για να διαβασω)
το να κανω νατιγραφο του εργου μου
η 4 σελιδες που αφιερωσε στη ποιηση ενω μιλαμε για λογοτεχνια
η στις 3 σελιδες πουα φιερωσε στους κριτικους θαβοντας τους
κ χαριτολογώντας να λεει οι γυναικες συγγραφεις να μην τους την πεσουν
εν κατακλειδι ειχε κατι ακυρα
ειχε κ μερικες καλες
αλλα οχι!! προς το παρον για οποιον ενδιαφερεται το πως να γραψεις της μανινας εινια κλασεις ανωτερο για εναν νεο απειρο που ξεκιναει τωρα τα ξεκιναει με μια ωραια σειρα απτο μηδεν κ στα αναλυει ομορφα κ ωραια κ με ασκησεις κ ολα!!!
εξυπνος τιτλος κ εξυπνος τροπος να σε κανει να καταλαβεις τι πρεπει ναποφυγεις,
με μια δοση χιουμορ κ σαρκασμου,
ομως εχω διαβασει ακλυτερα βιβλια του ειδους! με ουσιαστικες-πρακτικες συμβουλες
πχ δεν θεωρω συμβουλη (την οποια πληρωσα βιβλιο για να διαβασω)
το να κανω νατιγραφο του εργου μου
η 4 σελιδες που αφιερωσε στη ποιηση ενω μιλαμε για λογοτεχνια
η στις 3 σελιδες πουα φιερωσε στους κριτικους θαβοντας τους
κ χαριτολογώντας να λεει οι γυναικες συγγραφεις να μην τους την πεσουν
εν κατακλειδι ειχε κατι ακυρα
ειχε κ μερικες καλες
αλλα οχι!! προς το παρον για οποιον ενδιαφερεται το πως να γραψεις της μανινας εινια κλασεις ανωτερο για εναν νεο απειρο που ξεκιναει τωρα τα ξεκιναει με μια ωραια σειρα απτο μηδεν κ στα αναλυει ομορφα κ ωραια κ με ασκησεις κ ολα!!!
July 26, 2016
Again, Andrew Lang hits the spot in the dialogue of literary concept. He expounds on the ways a writer may fail, which of course no one wants to do, but it makes the lecture humorous and interesting. It is always a good idea to see a point from all angles, and with the knowledge of how to fail, a writer can avoid doing that which will lead him there. Lang makes some great points, most of which I'm sure will help me with my own writing. Great topic and thought-provoking material here.
December 16, 2016
A wonderful writing primer set up as how to fail at writing. Most amusing and informative written, in high blown Victorian style.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews