Literature Network » Ring Lardner

He isn't bad, but he's still a kid

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From: Chicago Sun-Times
Date: 20020728
Author:Jonathan Yardley

TWELVE

By Nick McDonell

Grove. $23.

Soon after the end of World War I a book called The Young Visitors was published in England to sales of 300,000 copies, a startling commercial success that surely was explained by novelty. Daisy Ashford, its author--or alleged author--was 8 years old. As Dr. Johnson said of a dog walking on its hind legs, "It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all." Indeed it was done so badly that once the book found its way to the States, Ring Lardner was inspired to write a brilliant parody, "The Young Immigrunts," which continues to find readers ...

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