Letters from Hell (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1866. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. Perhaps you will be surprised to hear me speak of Literature in Hell. A few explanatory remarks, however, will suffice to remove your astonishment. It is simply thus: As every specific evil finds its way down to Hell, so also does everything that is of an immoral tendency, or exceedingly foolish, descend here, whether it be in a written or printed form. First come the works themselves, then their authors. Thus you see, literature cannot by any means be said to be poorly represented here; and as may be supposed, it is tolerably one-sided. Light literature is very fully represented by a number of trashy novels, All civilized countries and peoples have contributed towards it, though in very different proportions. Some are distinguished by the quantity, others by the quality, of their contributions. The lastnamed may be divided into two classes-- schools they cannot properly be termed--thepiquant, and the racy. Both have their special representatives. I mention no names; but doubtless it will be an agreeable surprise to some authors who are still living to hear how extensively their talents are appreciated, as they not only write for the world, but also for Hell. As far as regards any remuneration from this latter place, the authors must be content to waive their claim, at least for the present, till they come here themselves. Then doubtless matters will be satisfactorily arranged. This light literature is in as great demand here as it was in the world. There are those, indeed, who, so to speak, live on nothing else. But still that soul has not yet been found that has received any edification from it. It was little enough in the world, forsooth, but here it is much less. It is a natural consequence. In the world an excited imagination and inflamed desir...