The Literary Life and Other Curiosities (A Harvest Book)

If you're ever tempted to think, as a writer, "nobody knows the trouble I've seen," reach for this volume put together by Robert Hendrickson and let your spirits be comforted by the fact that the likes of Voltaire, Robert Graves and Alexandre Dumas endured tribulations just like yours. Ask yourself why the reprinted Chinese editor's rejection slip -- "Ten thousand times I crave your pardon... Do what you will..." -- isn't made standard. Then wonder if Martin Luther wasn't on to something with the observation that "everyone must be an author." Your spirits thusly salved, you can get back to work.