Inquiries and Opinions

"Inquiries and Opinions" by Brander Matthews is a compilation of essays examining literature during the shift into the 20th century. It looks at how societal forces, like growing democracies and scientific discoveries, influence artistic expression. Matthews kicks things off by talking about how tricky it is to predict where literature is headed and stresses why understanding its past is key. He thinks about the impact of the previous century, especially how new scientific ideas, the spread of democracy, and the development of national pride all shaped what writers were doing. Matthews believes that literature mirrors life and needs to tackle the big changes happening in society, building a foundation for discussions about what makes literature good and the hurdles faced by those who create and critique it.