When a book, any sort of book, reaches a certain intensity of artistic performance it becomes literature. That intensity may be a matter of style, situation, character, emotional tone, or idea, or half a dozen other things. It may also be a perfection of control over the movement of a story similar to the control a great pitcher has over the ball.

Summary

This quote suggests that when a book reaches a certain level of artistic excellence in terms of style, plot, characters, emotions, or ideas, it is elevated to the status of literature. The intensity of artistic performance is seen as a determining factor, along with the control exhibited in how the story unfolds. The analogy of a skilled pitcher controlling the movement of the ball implies that a great writer possesses a similar mastery over their narrative, thereby enhancing its status as literature.

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