1889-03-19 to Clara Lanza

Printed letter, Life of George Moore (1936, pages 155-156), 207 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

19 March 1889

...Your dialogue is good in substance, but it is more than faulty in form. It is not dramatic dialogue. It could not be spoken; it would not be listened to. In its present form, the play would be hissed at the end of the first act, if the actors got so far. There is no use mincing matters, that is the truth. Now I think I can convert what you sent me into a beautiful play; indeed, I feel sure I can. I like the subject and the treatment of the subject as much as ever....

I do not believe I have written to you since you sent me your last photograph. I admired it exceedingly. You are much better thin than fat. I confess I have a weakness for thin people and I would sooner put up with any discomfort in the way of eating than grow fat. The way to keep down flesh is not to drink at meals. Zola reduced himself three stone by this simple expedient. Drink two hours after meals and avoid a crumb of bread.