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What’s in a name?
Ask the booksellers, and they will tell you, _much_ in
the title-page of a new book....
The making up of a taking title-page, seems to have been
the peculiar province of the bookseller, time out of
mind.—_Fly leaves.... London_ [published and edited
by] _John Miller_, 1854.
After a perusal of my list I think every gentleman will agree with me
that Ladies really are very aggravating. It would be curious to hear the
exclamation of any lady who has written as “A lady,” upon looking it
over. She would probably exclaim that when she wrote as “A lady,” she
thought she was the only one, or at all events one of the first.
The authoress of: “How to dress on £15 a year as a lady, by a lady,”
would no doubt be surprised to find such a long list for the present
century alone. I mention this flowing and somewhat vigorously written
little work; but it is of too recent a date for me to make any enquiry
for the author’s name, especially as it is a secret that, from the
present popularity of the book, is not likely to be long kept.[1] For I
have remarked that though these ladies do not like placing their names
on their books, yet there is little desire to disguise the authorship,
and enquiries are generally soon satisfied if a work has attained any
success. They like to see themselves in print, so long as there is no
infringement of the patent of modesty.
Footnote 1:
Since this was written (1875) the author’s name has been divulged, and
there has also been a Chancery Suit in relation to the work. I have
put the book in the list which follows as an illustration of some of
my remarks.
The inference from this is that my list is composed chiefly of works
that have not become famous or popular, which is the fact. If secresy
were their object, it has to the present time been attained, for they
have defied my researches. Nevertheless I believe that to some one of
the author’s friends or relations she has been known, but “no man is a
prophet in his own country,” and friends and relations very often care
too little for what literary ladies are doing to follow Captain Cuttle’s
advice and “make a note” of an author’s name. Knowledge is often the
greatest enemy to the recording of facts. People often know so well whom
a book is by, that they are not even aware of its pseudonimity. The
majority of novel readers never know the name of the author, nor do they
care to enquire, and much prefer reading a novel “By the author of” some
previous work which has interested them.
In many cases I am asking for information which the authoresses do not
conceal, and which is well known though unknown to me.
Thus I ascribe my not knowing the name of the author rather to the fact
of there being no one to make a note of it when found, than any desire
on the fair writer’s part to remain unknown. When a lady has written her
first work as “a lady” she seldom adopts that denomination in her second
work; but more frequently uses the term “By the author of” the previous
work, or “By a lady, author of,” etc.
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