Confessions and Criticisms

"Confessions and Criticisms" by Julian Hawthorne is a blend of personal reflections and literary analysis from the 1800s. Hawthorne, son of novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, discusses his path into the world of books and his opinions on writing, along with an evaluation of books, particularly American stories. The book starts with Hawthorne talking about his start as a writer, including early attempts at poems and stories while also working as a civil engineer. He talks about how his career grew, covering problems with being accepted as a writer because of his father's name and the difficulty of making his own style. This look back shows his passion for books and his problems. He also gives a wider review of American books, touching on ideas about who we are, good and bad in stories, and the complexities of writing a story, asking readers to join him in looking at his own life and how writing works.