As nearly as possible in the spirit of Matthew Salinger…
“As nearly as possible in the spirit of Matthew Salinger, age one, urging a luncheon companion to accept a cool lima bean, I urge my editor, mentor and (heaven help him) closest friend, William Shawn, genius domus of The New Yorker, lover of the long shot, protector of the unprolific, defender of the hopelessly flamboyant, most unreasonably modest of born great artist-editors to accept this pretty skimpy-looking book.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The writer implores a respected editor to accept a modest book, invoking admiration and humor
In simple terms: Ask a great editor to accept a modest book
Key Takeaway
Persuade a trusted mentor to embrace a work
Themes
persuasion
humor
literary criticism
editorial influence
modesty
confidence
Mood
respectful
playful
hopeful
Type
persuasive
humorous
literary
When to use this quote
- Submitting a manuscript
- seeking endorsement
- convincing a mentor
- publishing negotiations
- literary networking
Key Concepts
Literary advocacy
editorial mentorship
humorous appeal
Questions to Reflect On
- How does flattery affect professional decisions?
- When is humor appropriate in serious requests?
A Different Perspective
The request may be seen as overly flattering, risking insincerity