"There
are two basic kinds of
literature.
One
helps you
to
understand, the
other helps
you
to
forget; the first helps
you
to be
a free person and a free cititen, the other helps people
to
manipulate you.
One is like
astronomy, the other
is like astrology.
"The trouble
with
this
analogy
is
that the difference between astronomy ,
and
astrology,
between
science
and mumbo-jumbo
is
crystal-dear
to most
people, whereas the difference between
tme
and
false literature is not."
-from the title essay
STEPHENVIZINCZEY
TRUTH
&
LIESIN
LITERATURE
Photo: Sally
Soamc~
The Hungarian-born playwright and novelist, whose In Praise
of
Older
Women established his reputation in this country, here assembles a
collection of his writings on an array of authors classic l\nd modern,
European and American-unerringly distinguishing between the
true and the false.
"What is most impressive about these essays (apart from their range
and erudition) is the way that literature and life are so subtly
intertwined with each other. The passion for one is the passion for the
other. As it ought to be in criticism but seldom is."-Mark Le Fanu,
The Times (London)
"His boldness and pugnacity are bracing and can be very funny."
-Ray Sawhill,
Newsweek
$12.95 paper
The University ofChicago Press
