Craft Quote by P.D. James
““What about his style?" asked Dalgliesh who was beginning to think that his reading had been unnecessarily restricted. "Turgid but grammatical. And, in these days, when every illiterate debutante thinks she is a novelist, who am I to quarrel with that? Written with Fowler on his left hand and Roget on his right. Stale, flat and, alas, rapidly becoming unprofitable..." "What was he like as a person?" asked Dalgliesh. "Oh, difficult. Very difficult, poor fellow! I thought you knew him? A precise, self-opinionated, nervous little man perpetually fretting about his sales, his publicity or his book jackets. He overvalued his own talent and undervalued everyone else's, which didn't exactly make for popularity." "A typical writer, in fact?" suggested Dalgliesh mischievously.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, 1926 (reference within the story)
The passage critiques pretentious literary criticism and the self‑absorbed nature of some writers, highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success.
In simple terms: Criticizing pretentious writers and shallow criticism.
Key Takeaway
Beware of valuing style over substance.
Themes
literature
criticism
authenticity
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
expository
dialogue
When to use this quote
- book club discussion
- author interview
- creative writing workshop
Key Concepts
pretentiousness
self‑opinion
market pressures
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you judge a book by its style?
- How can critics support emerging voices?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook genuine innovation in unconventional works.
