Here is a quote I came across in The Athenaeum from the 9th of April 1864 one long day in the library:
On the title of Mr. Dickens' new story, ``Our Mutual Friend'', we have received many protests which would more usefully have been directed to the story-teller. ``In the interest of the Queen's English'', one gentleman writes, ``is it not to be regretted that Mr. Dickens should have chosen this phrase as the title of his new book? What is a mutual friend? If A has friendly feelings towards B, and B reciprocates them, their friendship is mutual; and they may without impropriety be called mutual friends. But if A and B are two persons, each of whom enjoys the friendship of a third person, C, there is no ``mutuality'' in the case. C is in this case their common friend; and the use of the word mutual to express the relation is which any of them stands to either of the others is manifestly incorrect. Two brothers cannot be said to have a mutual parent. Their father is their common parent''. Another gentleman reminds us that Macaulay has made a particular and emphatic protest against this expression. Mr. Dickens, it is admitted, has the power, and the right, to raise a mere colloquialism out of the dust, and to confer upon it the dignity of a literary idiom. But where there is a great power there is equal responsibility. At present we can only write in the dark, for Mr. Dickens's story is not published, and, for anything we know his use of the term may be perfectly sound. We have the right to assume it is so' (511).
On the title of Mr. Dickens' new story, ``Our Mutual Friend'', we have received many protests which would more usefully have been directed to the story-teller. ``In the interest of the Queen's English'', one gentleman writes, ``is it not to be regretted that Mr. Dickens should have chosen this phrase as the title of his new book? What is a mutual friend? If A has friendly feelings towards B, and B reciprocates them, their friendship is mutual; and they may without impropriety be called mutual friends. But if A and B are two persons, each of whom enjoys the friendship of a third person, C, there is no ``mutuality'' in the case. C is in this case their common friend; and the use of the word mutual to express the relation is which any of them stands to either of the others is manifestly incorrect. Two brothers cannot be said to have a mutual parent. Their father is their common parent''. Another gentleman reminds us that Macaulay has made a particular and emphatic protest against this expression. Mr. Dickens, it is admitted, has the power, and the right, to raise a mere colloquialism out of the dust, and to confer upon it the dignity of a literary idiom. But where there is a great power there is equal responsibility. At present we can only write in the dark, for Mr. Dickens's story is not published, and, for anything we know his use of the term may be perfectly sound. We have the right to assume it is so' (511).
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
This message last edited by Camilla on 02/11/2011 at 06:22:38 AM
November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps?
- 01/11/2011 08:10:09 AM
1311 Views
The Charles Dickens biography by Michael Slater
- 01/11/2011 08:57:58 AM
1044 Views
I have a problem with that title - Our Mutual Friend, indeed!
- 02/11/2011 01:21:39 AM
906 Views
Hahahhahahaha
- 02/11/2011 06:04:28 AM
2105 Views
And
- 02/11/2011 06:38:56 AM
995 Views
It was for comic effect, and based on my memory of your posting that article.
- 02/11/2011 04:43:10 PM
815 Views
Re: It was for comic effect, and based on my memory of your posting that article.
- 02/11/2011 05:16:15 PM
918 Views
I finished The Secret Pilgrim by Le Carré (the last Smiley novel, if you can call it that)
- 04/11/2011 08:41:50 PM
825 Views
Middlemarch will probably take me a few weeks more. After that, we'll see.
- 01/11/2011 10:32:21 AM
979 Views
Read Tintentod, now reading Antony and Cleopatra (Goldsworthy, not Shakespeare). *NM*
- 28/11/2011 09:35:13 PM
451 Views
Am falling back on Harry Dresden due to the pressures of studying.
- 01/11/2011 02:00:49 PM
971 Views
So, books.
- 01/11/2011 10:08:00 PM
913 Views
The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. *NM*
- 05/11/2011 02:19:39 PM
458 Views
THe Great Gatsby. *NM*
- 28/11/2011 02:26:14 PM
411 Views
Allow me to request a review of that one. I've long been thinking I need to read it. *NM*
- 28/11/2011 09:35:48 PM
432 Views
Back to Der Zauberberg. About halfway through now.
- 02/11/2011 01:17:32 AM
923 Views
I don't know how I managed to read about 900 pages of German this month...
- 26/11/2011 10:33:52 PM
876 Views
Re: November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps?
- 02/11/2011 08:07:11 PM
1144 Views
new Catherine Asaro book!
- 02/11/2011 08:22:15 PM
957 Views
reading Temeraire
- 15/11/2011 05:50:45 PM
929 Views
"Temeraire" was fun. Started on "Tumbling After" by Paul Witcover. *NM*
- 16/11/2011 06:32:50 PM
383 Views
Read "Broken Time" by Maggy Thomas/Emily Devenport. Really good!
- 30/11/2011 04:31:41 PM
1181 Views
Yeesh, November already.
- 06/11/2011 12:28:51 PM
937 Views
Have you read Old Custer by Eli Cash?
- 06/11/2011 04:06:33 PM
917 Views
Nope.
- 06/11/2011 04:50:27 PM
902 Views
Never mind.
- 06/11/2011 05:07:30 PM
910 Views
Never mind.
- 06/11/2011 05:07:30 PM
910 Views
" *NM*
Re: November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps?
- 28/11/2011 04:16:33 AM
1084 Views