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I have never known a novel that was good enough to be good in spite of its being adapted to the author's political views.
Edith Wharton
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that a novel's quality can be compromised by the author's political agenda.

Edith Wharton's quote reflects the idea that when an author's political views dominate a narrative, it can detract from the overall quality of the novel. She implies that a truly great story should transcend the author's biases and resonate with readers on a more universal level, highlighting the potential conflict between art and ideology in literature.

Themes

LiteraturePoliticsQualityArtNarrative

In practice

Example use cases

During a book club discussion about the impact of an author's beliefs on their work.

More from Edith Wharton

They are all alike you know. They hold their tongues for years and you think you're safe, but when the opportunity comes they remember everything.
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As he paid the hansom and followed his wife's long train into the house he took refuge in the comforting platitude that the first six months were always the most difficult in marriage. 'After that I suppose we shall have pretty nearly finished rubbing off each other’s angles,' he reflected; but the worst of it was that May's pressure was already bearing on the very angles whose sharpness he most wanted to keep
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There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.
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