Somerset Maugham narrates an anecdote in the Foreword to his majestic novel, Of Human Bondage . Celebrated French novelist, Marcel Proust, wanted a periodical to publish an article on one of his great novels. The novelist wrote the article himself thinking that none would be a better critic of his than himself. Then he asked a young friend of his, a man of letters, to put his name to it and take it to the editor. The editor called the young writer after a few days. “I must refuse your article,” said the editor. “Marcel Proust would never forgive me if I printed a criticism of his work that was so perfunctory and so unsympathetic.” Authors are touchy about their productions, says Maugham, and inclined to resent unfavourable criticism. But they are seldom self-satisfied. “Their aim is perfection and they are wretchedly aware that they have not attained it.” Not only authors, but any person or institution should be ready to accept criticism from others as well a
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