The first book that my brother David Noel read from beginning to end was A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Each chapter was named for the king it dealt with. The last chapter was titled Conclusion. For years he thought King Conclusion was the last monarch in English history.—Ben Freedman 9/16/08 (email)

Three standards of greatness in a work of fiction: How much do you hope this novel won't come to an end? How many thoughts does this novel make you have that you haven't had before? And: How novel is this novel? Could anybody else have written it?

--Donald Harrington [via David Angsten]

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