A Manual of the Art of Fiction   By: Clayton Meeker Hamilton (1881-1946)

A MANUAL OF THE ART OF FICTION

Other Books by Clayton Hamilton

ON THE TRAIL OF STEVENSON . . . . $3.50 net

Published by Doubleday, Page & Company

THE THEORY OF THE THEATRE . . . . $1.60 net

STUDIES IN STAGECRAFT . . . . . . $1.60 net

PROBLEMS OF THE PLAYWRIGHT. . . . $1.60 net

Published by Henry Holt & Company

A Manual of

THE ART OF FICTION

Prepared for the Use of Schools and Colleges

By

CLAYTON HAMILTON

Member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters; Extension Lecturer in English, Columbia University

With an Introduction by

BRANDER MATTHEWS

Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters; Professor of Dramatic Literature, Columbia University

GARDEN CITY NEW YORK

DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

1919

Copyright, 1918, by

Doubleday, Page & Company

All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian.

TO

FREDERIC TABER COOPER

WITH ADMIRATION FOR THE CRITIC

WITH AFFECTION FOR THE FRIEND

FOREWORD

This MANUAL OF THE ART OF FICTION is a revised and amplified edition of "Materials and Methods of Fiction," by Clayton Hamilton, which was first published in 1908. The earlier work was immediately recognized as an important piece of constructive criticism and has held its position ever since as one of the leading books in its field. On the tenth anniversary of its appearance, the publishers have asked the author to prepare this annotated and enlarged edition, particularly for the use of students and teachers in schools and colleges.

DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY. Garden City, New York, 1918.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD vii

INTRODUCTION xiii

I. THE PURPOSE OF FICTION 3 Fiction a Means of Telling Truth Fact and Fiction Truth and Fact The Search for Truth The Necessary Triple Process Different Degrees of Emphasis The Art of Fiction and the Craft of Chemistry Fiction and Reality Fiction and History Fiction and Biography Biography, History, and Fiction Fiction Which Is True Fiction Which Is False Casual Sins against the Truth in Fiction More Serious Sins against the Truth The Futility of the Adventitious The Independence of Created Characters Fiction More True Than a Casual Report of Fact The Exception and the Law Truthfulness the only Title to Immortality Morality and Immorality in Fiction The Faculty of Wisdom Wisdom and Technic General and Particular Experience Extensive and Intensive Experience The Experiencing Nature Curiosity and Sympathy.