Art Quote by William Monahan
“The novel may be dead as a commercial form. When art forms things die as commercial forms, something happens to the practice of those arts that isn't very pleasant. It used to be that a poet like Tennyson could keep his house and his coach-and-four and his staff of six servants on the income from poetry. That doesn't happen anymore.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing the state of the novel (unknown source)
Notes that the novel's commercial decline affects artistic practice, reducing financial stability for writers.
In simple terms: Novel sales have fallen, hurting writers.
Adapt to new publishing models.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- freelance writing
- self‑publishing
- grant seeking
- literary festivals
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers sustain themselves today?
- What new models support literary art?
May overlook niche markets that thrive.