Yesterday I finished making a list of all social, political, and artistic events which I thought possibly useful for my novel between 1872 and 1882. Tedious bore, for a trifling result in the book. But necessary. Today in the forest (of Fontainebleau) I practically arranged most of the construction of the first part of the novel. Still lacking a title for it. If I thought an ironic title would do, I would call it "A thoughtful young man". But the public is so damned slow in the uptake.
Arnold Bennett, Journal, 19th November 1909.
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