1889-06-06 to William Archer

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Aet. 37, to a Scottish drama critic. George Moore’s dustup with Robert William Buchanan began with criticism in Confessions of a Young Man (Chapter 10). Buchanan threatened an “action for libel” and followed with “The Modern Young Man as Critic” (Universal Review, March 1889): “The age of sham is over, and the new prophet of straight-forward animalism is Mr. George Moore.” He continued in “Is Chivalry Still Possible?” (Daily Telegraph, 22 March 1889), viewing sex-workers as victims of a cynical age. Letters on the plight of women flooded the Daily Telegraph until 4 April, when George’s “Is Buchanan Still Possible?” appeared (unsigned) in Truth. Buchanan’s “Imperial Cockneydom” (Universal Review, May 1889) was then followed by George’s second article in Truth (6 June 1889). Buchanan had the last word in the Echo (11 June 1889).

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