1950–54

Abstract

The 1950s were ushered in for Aldington in a paper nightmare, English and American proofs of the Lawrence biography, and ‘interminable Lorenzo Penguins’ all error-ridden. Endeavours of this sort were not helped by his learning that The Strange Life of Charles Waterton, despite relative British success, sold poorly in New York. He blamed this in part on paraphrasing and summarising review articles which, no matter how commendatory, obviated the reader’s need to purchase the book. Other reasons may be adduced—chiefly that American readers have not the British taste for whimsical eccentrics. His Waterton portrayal is sympathetic, sometimes lighthearted and amusing but sometimes ponderous or locquacious. Perhaps reviewers resorted to summary because not much can be made of such a book in the way of judgements.