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Thursday, April 1, 2021

History's Worst Novel

In 1897, the Irish novelist and poet, Amanda McKittrick Ros, published her first novel, Irene Iddesleigh. The opening line of this novel represents a writing ability and style that rightfully earned her the unofficial title of history's worst novelist: "Have you ever visited that portion of Erin's plot that offers its sympathetic soil for the minute survey and scrutinous (sic) examination of those in political power, whose decision has wisely been the means before now of converting the stern prejudiced, reaching the land of slight and to share its strength in augmenting its agricultural richness?" According to those who actually read the entire novel, the opening line is the best part. (That last sentence may not be true but is not an April Fool's Joke because Google, for the second year in a row, has canceled April Fool's jokes in the name of the pandemic.)

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