 | Condensed novels and other papers |  |
PREFACE.
The style and finish of the following sketches may make it sufficiently
obvious to the reader, without further statement, that
they are written with no higher ambition than that of filling the
ephemeral pages of a weekly paper. But their publication in
that form, has been the means of giving them a popularity which
their author trusts justifies him in reproducing them in a collected
and more permanent shape. The “Condensed Novels,” to which
this more particularly refers, claim no other originality in their
general conception, than that shown by their title—a humorous
condensation of the salient characteristics of certain writers, selected
without reference to their standing or prominence in literature.
In one or two instances the parody has been based upon some individual
work—but in most cases the author has endeavored to show
the general idiosyncrasies of each author.
For the other sketches, though comprising the greater part of
the volume, their introduction here must rest solely upon the assumed
popularity of the “Condensed Novels.” They were selected
from writings, scattered through the California press during a
period of five or six years. Though based upon local scenery and
local subjects, no one is better aware than their author, of their
deficiency in local coloring, a deficiency which he nevertheless
believes is made up by such general interest and abstract fidelity,
as may make them applicable to any locality.
| Condensed novels and other papers | |