I have not systematically searched modern fiction to illustrate or support the arguments of this book. Every novel quoted, or even mentioned, has come before me in the day's work, as a reviewer. It is scarcely necessary to add that no personal reflection upon any writer has even crossed my mind. I am not here concerned with the cause or motive of literature, but with its effect.
About This Book
The author contends that much contemporary fiction transmits corrosive sexual and moral ideas, tracing how prewar intellectual questioning and the disruptive experience of war reshaped young people's habits and attitudes. He surveys literary trends that endorse candid treatment of sex, promiscuity, and free-love ideals, analyzes recurring motifs such as the romanticized mistress and sex-conflict, and examines social consequences including weakened loyalty, ignorance in intimate relations, and diminished self-control. The essay focuses on the moral effects of these portrayals and advocates more responsible handling of intimate themes in literature.