Project Gutenberg 2004-10-22 Public domain in the USA. 234 Howells, William Dean 1837 1920 Howells, W. D. (William Dean) Howells, William D. (William Dean) Criticism and Fiction Produced by David Widger "Criticism and Fiction" by William Dean Howells is a critical examination of literary theory and aesthetics, written during the late 19th century. This text delves into the relationship between art and the appreciation of literature, posing essential questions regarding the criteria for evaluating artistic merit in a world where tastes and fashions are ever-changing. The author discusses how true beauty and goodness lie in the unpretentious and sincere, and he advocates for literature that faithfully reflects life over that which conforms to established ideals. The beginning of "Criticism and Fiction" explores the themes of changing tastes in art and literature, using the works of historical figures such as John Addington Symonds and Edmund Burke to illustrate its arguments. Howells reflects on the superficial nature of popular fashions, emphasizing the importance of truth and simplicity in artistic expression. He critiques prevailing literary standards that often favor romanticized or idealized portrayals of life while advocating for a realism that mirrors true human experience. Throughout this opening section, Howells establishes his standpoint that the most meaningful art stems from an honest representation of life rather than the pursuit of artificial perfection or adherence to outdated conventions. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 51.2 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Criticism Fiction -- History and criticism PS Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: American Literature 197006 2025-08-02T07:31:08.951733 text/html 196827 2025-01-08T20:13:34.033835 text/html 147192 2025-08-02T07:31:14.644711 application/epub+zip 149323 2025-08-02T07:31:11.681713 application/epub+zip 133688 2025-08-02T07:31:10.617741 application/epub+zip 290977 2025-08-02T07:31:17.085679 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 269378 2025-08-02T07:31:13.997748 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 246139 2022-09-02T09:48:52.025799 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 185021 2025-08-02T07:31:08.641766 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 184860 2021-01-08T19:37:18 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17540 2025-08-02T07:31:17.210686 application/rdf+xml 14427 2025-08-02T07:31:11.120704 image/jpeg 3525 2025-08-02T07:31:10.864717 image/jpeg 70634 2021-01-08T19:37:18 application/octet-stream application/zip 147638 2025-08-02T07:31:08.969750 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia