We fought, Wilkie Collins and I. We fought bitterly and…
““We fought, Wilkie Collins and I. We fought bitterly and with all our might, to a standstill, over a period of about three weeks, on trains and aeroplanes and by hotel swimming pools. Sometimes – usually late at night, in bed – he could put me out cold with a single paragraph; every time I got through twenty or thirty pages, it felt to me as though I’d socked him good, but it took a lot out of me, and I had to retire to my corner to wipe the blood and sweat off my reading glasses. Only in the last fifty-odd pages, after I’d landed several of these blows, did old Wilkie show any signs buckling under the assault.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author describes an intense, prolonged literary battle with Wilkie Collins, using vivid metaphor of combat to convey the struggle of reading and interpreting his work.
In simple terms: Reading Collins was like a fierce, exhausting fight.
Key Takeaway
Persevere through challenging literature.
Themes
literature
conflict
endurance
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- reading classics
- academic study
- writing practice
Key Concepts
metaphor
creative struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- What texts have challenged you most?
- How do you maintain stamina while reading dense works?
A Different Perspective
Such battles can be draining and may lead to burnout.