METHODS OF AUTHORS
ERICHSEN
WP Co

Copyright, 1894,
By WILLIAM H. HILLS.

All Rights Reserved.

To

R. E. FRANCILLON,

who is admired and loved by novel-readers on
both sides of the Atlantic,

This Book is Dedicated,

by his permission, with sincere regard, by
the Author.

[v]PREFACE.

When I began to gather the material for this volume I was quite doubtfulas to whether the public would be interested in a work of this kind ornot. As my labor progressed, however, it became evident that not onlythe body of the people, but authors themselves, were deeply interestedin the subject, and would welcome a book treating of it. Not only M.Jules Claretie, the celebrated Parisian literarian, but the late Dr.Meissner and many others assured me of this fact.

Nor is this very surprising. Who, after reading a brilliant novel, orsome excellent treatise, would not like to know how it was written?

So far as I know, this volume is a novelty, and Ben Akiba is outwittedfor once. Books about authors have been published by the thousands, butto my knowledge, up to date, none have been issued describing theirmethods of work.

In the preparation of this book I have been greatly aided by the worksof Rev. Francis Jacox, an anonymous article in All the Year Round, and[vi]R. E. Francillon's essay on "The Physiology of Authorship," whichappeared first in the Gentleman's Magazine.

I was also assisted in my labor by numerous newspaper clippings and manyletters from writers, whose names appear in this volume, and to all ofwhom I return my sincere thanks.

H. E.

Detroit, Mich.

[vii]CONTENTS.