I will not adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel writers, of degrading by their contemptuous censure the very performances, to the number of which they are themselves adding—joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works, and scarcely ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, if she accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid leaves with disgust.

Summary

In this quote, the author criticizes a common practice among novel writers who belittle and criticize their own works, contributing to the negative perception of the genre. The author refers to these writers as ungenerous and impolitic, highlighting their tendency to join forces with their adversaries in giving harsh labels to their own works. The quote also mentions a fictional heroine who is discouraged from reading novels due to the prevailing negative portrayal, causing her to reject them without giving them a fair chance. By expressing disapproval of this practice, the author emphasizes the need for a more supportive and open-minded mindset.

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