Books Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Novel and the Novelists, 1935
The best American story already exists but has been dismissed by mainstream tastes.
In simple terms: Great works can be ignored.
Seek out overlooked literature.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic curricula
- publishing decisions
- cultural criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why are some masterpieces ignored?
- How can we broaden literary standards?
Popularity doesn’t guarantee quality.