“I HAVEN’T ANY RIGHT TO CRITICIZE BOOKS, AND I DON’T DO IT EXCEPT WHEN I HATE THEM. I OFTEN WANT TO CRITICIZE JANE AUSTEN, BUT HER BOOKS MADDEN ME SO THAT I CAN’T CONCEAL MY FRENZY FROM THE READER; AND THEREFORE I HAVE TO STOP EVERY TIME I BEGIN. EVERY TIME I READ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, I WANT TO DIG HER UP AND HIT HER OVER THE SKULL WITH HER OWN SHIN-BONE.”; MARK TWAIN ON JANE AUSTEN
