 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Cyril Connolly |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary criticism Autobiography |
| Publisher | George Routledge & Sons |
Publication date | 1938 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
Enemies of Promise[1] is a critical and autobiographical work by English writer Cyril Connolly published in 1938,[2] later enlarged when it was first reprinted in 1948.[3] Together with The Unquiet Grave (1944), it is one of the two books for which the author is mainly remembered.[4]
It comprises three parts, the first dedicated to Connolly's observations about English literature and the English literary world of his time, the second a list of adverse elements that affect the ability to be a good writer and the last an account of Connolly's early life. The overarching theme of the book is the search for understanding why Connolly, though he was widely recognised as a leading man of letters and a highly distinguished critic, failed to produce a major work of literature.[5]
- ^ Connolly, Cyril (25 April 2024). Enemies of Promise. Deutsch. ISBN 978-0-233-97936-6.
- ^ Hitchens, Christopher (1 May 2008). "Arrested Development". Atlantic Monthly. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Holiday, Ryan (23 July 2017). "How to stand the test of time as an artist". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Andrews, Robert & Hughes, Kate (2000). The New Penguin Dictionary of Modern Quotations. London: Penguin. p. 86. ISBN 0140293078 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Taylor, D. J. (1 January 2016). "The modern enemies of promise". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 April 2024.