Who is whistling? - Felice Cavallotti

Italian politician and dramatic author Felice Cavallotti (1842-1898) couldn’t accept the fact that the audience didn’t like some of his theatrical works. When some critic heavily attacked one of his work after its premiere, Cavallotti went straight to the editor of the paper that published the article.

“That critic of yours didn’t like my work because of my party allegiances!" - Shouted Cavallotti.

“Dear mister Cavallotti,” the editor answered him calmly, “those who booed your work at the theater weren’t members of some political party, but a very small group of people that have actually watched your play”.

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Literary compliment – Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe

Works of American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) were not very well received at the time when Poe was alive. Poe's stories and poems were especially despised by writer and journalist Mark Twain (1835-1910) who once in a letter to his friend wrote:

“To me his prose is unreadable—like Jane Austin’s. No, there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, but not Jane’s. Jane is entirely impossible. It seems a great pity that they allowed her to die a natural death.

Another thing: you grant that God and circumstances sinned against Poe, but you also grant that he sinned against himself—a thing which he couldn’t do and didn’t do.”

 

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Too long – Antoine de Rivarol

French writer Antoine de Rivarol (1753-1801) was once asked by a mediocre poet what he thought of a couplet that the poet just wrote.

"Great song, “said Antoine de Rivarol, "but I think that it’s too long.”

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Plain and simple – Clive Barnes

Clive Barnes (1927-2008), a prominent theater critic for The New York Times, once attended the first performance of second-rate theatrical play called "The Cupboard". After the premiere of the play, in the newspaper appeared unusually short theatrical criticism.

In the article entitled “The Cupboard” Barnes wrote only one word: "Bare".

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