38
DISCOVERIES OF GREAT MINDS
1
Knut Hamsun’s resemblance to Conrad, discerned by Edwin
Bjdrkman.
2
%
Also Mr. Hamsun’s “naivete”. But Mr. Bjorkman is willing
to forgive this weakness, this shortcoming, this general uncon
sciousness, on the ground that it is often associated with great
genius (just as unconsciously, I suppose).
3
“It may be whispered without offense that the Little Review
itself doesn’t understand much of what it prints.”—Burton Ras-
coe in the New York Tribune. Penetration worthy of a detec
tive: followed by a list of our contributors now understood by
the entire (civilized) literary world, and upon whom Mr. Ras-
coe draws almost exclusively for the life of his column.
4
Hermann Hesse in the June Dial, page 616: “Naturally one
can if one likes regard ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ as a work of
art.” But naturally, one would not like. It is simpler, like Mr.
Hesse, to regard the antics of singing teachers as Art and the
literature of Dostoevsky as “beyond Art.” The complications
which might arise from regarding Dostoevsky as Art and the
singing teachers as below Art are apparently nerve-destroying.
5
Rich Business Man : The Little Review isn’t a business prop
osition. I can’t contribute.
The Little Review: We didn’t describe it as a business.
B. M. You have to look at it as a hobby.