Views and Reviews: Essays in appreciation: Literature

"Views and Reviews: Essays in Appreciation: Literature" by William Ernest Henley is a collection of literary essays written in the late 19th century. This work assembles reflections and critiques on various authors, including Dickens, Thackeray, and Hugo, emphasizing their contributions to literature while also assessing their flaws. The essays examine the artistry, style, and thematic depth of these writers, providing a rich landscape of literary appreciation from Henley’s perspective. The opening of the book introduces the compilation's framework, revealing that it is a mosaic of Henley’s former journalism spanning over fourteen years. Henley acknowledges the diverse sources from which his essays are drawn, indicating a significant engagement with literary critiques and personal interpretations of renowned authors. Among the first subjects offered is a critical analysis of Charles Dickens, highlighting the contrasts between his comedic and dramatic talents while appreciating the emotional resonance his characters evoke. This opening sets the tone for a thoughtful exploration of literary excellence and its shortcomings, inviting readers to reflect on the lasting impacts of these literary figures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Ernest Henley was an English poet, writer, critic and editor. Though he wrote several books of poetry, Henley is remembered most often for his 1875 poem "Invictus". A fixture in London literary circles, the one-legged Henley was an inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's character Long John Silver, while his young daughter Margaret Henley inspired J. M. Barrie's choice of the name Wendy for the heroine of his play Peter Pan (1904).