Tag Archives: literary oddities

[N.B. that both novels remain in print.]

I. The Outlaw of Torn

“I am not sure there is any particular value in the happy ending. It seems to be more legitimate to have both De Vac and the outlaw die in the end, leaving the lady dissolved in tears, possibly on her way to become a nun.”

II. Under the Moons of Mars

“It is not at all probable, we think, that we can make use of a Virginia soldier miraculously transported to Mars….”

Excerpted from: Barnard, Andre, and Bill Henderson, eds. Pushcart’s Complete Rotten Reviews and Rejections. Wainscott, NY: Pushcart Press, 1998.

“The Last of the Plainsmen (1908)

I do not see anything in this to convince me you can write either narrative or fiction.

Riders of the Purple Sage (1912)

It is offensive to broadminded people who do not believe that it is wise to criticize any one denomination or religious belief.”

Excerpted from: Bernard, Andre, and Bill Henderson, eds. Pushcart’s Complete Rotten Reviews and Rejections. Wainscott, NY: Pushcart Press, 1998.