UNDER THE HILL
AND OTHER ESSAYS IN
PROSE AND VERSE BY
AUBREY BEARDSLEY
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
JOHN LANE PUBLISHER THE BODLEY HEAD
LONDON & NEW YORK MDCCCCIV
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
To those who are acquainted with Aubrey Beardsley's essays intothe domain of literature no apology for this re-publication isneeded—indeed Beardsley's most intimate friends have averred thatif his master genius had been turned seriously towards the world ofletters, his success would have been as undoubted there as it was inthe world of art.
Admirers frequently have expressed a wish to see the literary remainsof Beardsley. This volume, in which are gathered together variousfragments and personalia, will, I trust, meet the case.
A few of my random recollections of Beardsley's association with "TheYellow Book" perhaps will not be amiss.
Until the publication of the first volume of "The Yellow Book" in1894, Beardsley was practically unknown, his drawings for "Le MorteD'Arthur" and his marvellous designs illustrating "Salomé" constitutinghis artistic record. It was at this time, then, that one morning he,with Mr. Henry Harland and myself, during half an hour's chat over ourcigarettes at the Hogarth Club, founded the much discussed "YellowBook." Beardsley became Art Editor, whilst Mr. Harland accepted thepost of Literary Editor.
Many will remember the sensation caused by the appearance of the firstvolume. Perhaps the Westminster Gazette and the Times were the mostsevere in their strictures, at any rate on the Art in general and onBeardsley in particular.
The Westminster Gazette said:
"Mr. Aubrey Beardsley achieves excesses hitherto undreamtof. He seems to have conceived the disagreeable idea oftaking certain arrangements of lines invented by theJapanese, and specially suited to blithe and pleasantpeaks of decoration, and applying them to the most morbidof grotesque. His offence is the less to be condonedbecause he has undoubted skill as a line draughtsman andhas shown himself capable of refined and delicate work.But as regards certain of his inventions in this number,the thing called 'The Sentimental Education,' and thatother thing to which the name of Mrs. Patrick Campbellhas somehow become attached, we do not know that anythingwould meet the case except a short Act of Parliament tomake this kind of thing illegal."
The Times said:
"'The Yellow Book' is, we suppose, destined to be theorgan of the New Literature and the New Art. If the NewArt is represented by the cover of this wonderful volume,it is scarcely calculated to attract by its intrinsicbeauty or merit; possibly, however, it may be intendedto attract by its very repulsiveness and insolence, andin that case it is not unlikely to be successful. Itsnote appears to be a combination of English rowdyismwith French lubricity.... Sir Frederick Leighton, whocontributes two graceful studies, finds himself cheekby jowl with such advanced and riotous representativesof the New Art as Mr. Aubrey Beardsley and Mr. WalterSickert. On the whole
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