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His own personal history is of an interest almost comparable to that of his stories. He was educated at Cornell University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Cornell Widow, humorous magazine, for two years prior to his graduation in 1908. From 1909 to 1917 he was reporter, special writer and conductor of a hu- morous column and page for the Boston Post. On Valentine's day, 1911, he was married to Anna S. Mosser. He served briefly on the edi- torial staff of Puck and Life in New York before the world war took him abroad. He was a captain in the in- telligence section of the Siberian ex- peditionary force, in contact with French, English, Canadian, Czech, Russian and Japanese troops: with German and Austrian prisoners.
Roberts was one of the best known
of magazine correspondents when, in 1928, he voluntarily retired to the Italian "half-baked palace" to write his Chonicles of Arundel, a series of novels dealing with the revolution and the war of 1812. It is to this place that he again retires to collate and polish the material for his new book.
Roberts is known to spend years in
research for the work he produces. Herbert West, professor of literature at Dartmouth, has written:
"An American novelist, whose
merits as a historical writer of fiction have not been sufficiently under- stood, is Kenneth Roberts, of Maine. His Chronicles of Arundel, depicting the epic marching and fighting of the Northern army, are written with a gusto, and with a complete fidelity to historical fact down to the small- est detail, which to my knowledge no American historian or writer of his- torical fiction can equal. Mr Roberts travels to Algiers to verify one small fact. He covers the territory of his novels almost on hand and knees. He seeks almanacs to find the con- dition of the moon on a certain day 171 years ago. He ransacks the libraries of London, Oxford, Paris, Rome, New York, Washington, Han- over, N.H. and for all I know he has worked in Leningrad, the Kam- chatka Peninsula, Nome, and Bel- lows Falls, Vt. Why Americans are more interested in oil for the lamps of China, or the oft-repeated anec- dotes of Mr. Woolcott, or the be- wildering career of Anthony Adverse, rather than in the stirring tales of their own country's past, is more than I can understand."
AUTHOR AS CRITIC [Bold]
It is in dealing with the biographies
of Benedict Arnold that Roberts records some of his choicest mar- ginalia. Isaac Arnold's "Life of Arnold," published in 1879, he found the most satisfactory. The margins of the modern biographies of Arnold however, are full of pertinent ques- tions, corrections of mistakes, and shrewd profane comments. He finds the modern biographers cribbing worthless stuff from each other, stumbling into inexcusable errors,
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and attempting ridiculous flights of style. The marginal notes in these modern biographies include the fol- lowing: "Unfortunately true" ... "Beef from a Moose?" ..."Nuts" ..."Untrue"..."not correct." "Galleys didn't have bowsprits." ..."And what, Watson, is a broadside vessel?"..."Picture stolen from Anburey's Travels with- out credit."..."all wrong."... "What an ass! Split Rock is near the southern end of the lake."... "This book can be held up to all students of literature and history as an example of what not to do. The style is vile; the deductions worth- less; the facts distorted. It is a vicious book; an abomination; the nadir of biographical writing."
One significant part of Kenneth
Roberts' interpretation of Benedict Arnold's character in "Rabble in Arms" is the idea that Arnold really had a high motive for his treason namely a conviction that it was bet- ter to turn the colonies back to Eng- land than to leave them, through the incompetence of Congress, to fall into the hands of France. Anburey (a lieutenant in the army of Gen Burgoyne) in his "Travels Through the Interior Parts of America," for example, says of the colonies: "In the present day, if they attain their boasted end, it must be by the arm of some nation, to whom, for want of resources to defray the expenses of the alliance, she will be in con- tinual broils and disputes, which may perhaps finally terminate in atotal jubjection, and that abject slavery they so ridiculously pretend to dread from us." Roberts has annotated this passage: "This is Arnold's argu- ment, and his reason for turning against the congressional form of government of 1775-1786-- a terrible government. This reasoning of An- burey's is correct, and America wasa only saved by her accidental consti- tution."
SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH Another annotation in this history
comments on the description of Gen. St. Clair's retreat from Fort Ticon- deroga n July, 1777. This history reads, "As that the summer nights were at their shortest and the moon was full." Roberts has written in the margin. "He's a liar. St Clair's testimony was the same, but St Clair was a liar too. In July, 1777, there was a new moon on July 5, therefore it set around 7 to 8 P.M full moon was on July 20."
To prove his point, Mr. Roberts
has inserted at the page in the book a contemporary almanac, Rider's British Merlin. This is Roberts work- ing away at a small point, but a significant one in an understanding of Gen. St. Clair's testimony on how and why he gave up Fort Ticon- deroga without a fight. These annotated source books are proof of Kenneth Roberts' industry and good faith as a writer of historical novels. He has gone to original sources, has rejected poor work, has carefully
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collated the best accounts, and has thus gained a comprehensive grasp of theh period as a whole and of the life of the time.
The extraordinary amount of re-
vision which may be seen at the exhi- bits at Jordan Marsh's and at other book sellers' indicates the literary artist at work. This constant work- ing over of style goes on through a first, or author's typescript; and even into the gallery proofs and page proofs. It is not surprising, there- fore, to find that several Kenneth Roberts' novels have also been com- pletely revised since their first public- cation.
SCHEDULE OF WORKING DAYS A working chronology of Mr.
Roberts further displays some of his methods:
Nov. 7, 1931 -Finished Capt. Cau-
tion after endless labor and all night sessions.
Nov. 17 - Made a tentative outline
for the new novel, and discussed it with Booth Tarkington. Use new main characters, he said.
Nov. 22 - Discussed plot with Booth
and arrived at the decision about using two brothers, one a sea cap- tain; the other a spoiled and willful younger brother.
Nov 24 - Wrote the first two para-
graphs, calling the book temporarily The Splendid Rabble.
Dec 12 - Sailed for Italy. Dec 24,
arrived at Porto Santo Stafano.
Dec 26 - Resumed work on page
5. mss. book. Jan. 2, changed title to Rabble in Arms. 1932-Feb. 1: Quit on the book to write articles, our money having run out. Feb 24 - Resumed work on Rabble. mss. page 32: worked steadily till June 2, reaching mss. page 91. Sailed from Naples. July-August: Arundel. Sept. 19: Started reading the first 100,000 words of Rabble to Booth. Read and revised almost daily through Oct 15. Oct. 15-16: Laid out, with Booth's help, a tentative outline for the re- mainder of the book. The technical difficulties which the book presents will, I fear, never be understood by anyone but Booth and myself. Dec. 6- Sailed for Italy.
editor-in-chief of the Cornell • • • "Untrue." • • "Not •co The exfzaordinary amount of reas Widow, humorous magazine, for two "Galleys didn't llave bowsprits,, vision wluch may be seen at the exlit-. bits at Jordan Marsh's and at o years prior to his graduation in 1908. .. • • "And what. Watson, ii vessel?~ ; ,•p1cture = t :11::'.t_1D~ U:oi!~f:~ From 1909 to 1917 he was reporter, broadside special writer and conductor of a hu- . 11,tolen from Anburey's Travels with- ing over of stfle goes on through a. morous column and page for the out credit." , • • "All wrong." • , . first, or author's typescript; then a Boston Post. On Valentine's day "What an a.ssl Split Rock is near second, or printers' typescript; and 1911 he was married to Ann 8 ' the southern end of the lake." • • • even into the galley proofs and page M~er. He served briefly on the~dl • This book can be held up to all proofs. It is not surprising, theretorial staffs of Puck and Life in New students of literature and history as fore, to find that several of Kenneth York before the world war took him an example of what not to do. The Rober.ts' novels have alst> been comabroad. He was a captain in the in- 11tyle ls vile; the deductions worth- pletely rev!Sed since their first publltelligence section of the Siberian ex- less; the fact.s distorted. It is a cation. ped!tlonary force, In contact with :vicious bOok; an aliomlnation; the SCHED~LE OF WORKING DAYS A working chronology of Mr. French, English, Canadian, Czech, nadir of biographical writing." One significant part of Kenneth Roberts further displays some of his Russian and Japanese troops ; with Roberts' Interpretation of Benedict methods: German and Austrian prisoners. Nov. 7, 1931-Finished Ca.pt. CauRoberts was one of the best known Arnold's character in "Rabble :n of magazine correspondents when, Arms' ls the idea that Arnold really tion after endless labor and all night In 1928, he voluntarily retired to the had a high motive for his treason sessions. Italian "half-baked palace" to write namely a conviction that it was bet- , Nov. 17-Made a tentative outlllle his Chronicles of Arundel, a ,eries ter to turn the colonies back to Eng- for the new novel. and d!seussed lt of novels dealing with the revolution land than to leave them, through th! with Booth Tarkington. Use new and the war of 1812. It is to this incompetence of congress, to fall main characters. he said. Nov. 22-Dlscussed plot with Booth place that he again retires to collate into the hands of France. Anburey and polish the :naterial for his new (a lieutenant in the ar~y of Gen and arrived at the decision about Burgoyne) in his "Travels Through using two brothers. one a sea capbook. Roberts is known to spend years in the Interior Part.s of America," fox tain; the other a spoiled and wilful research for the work he produces. example, says of the colonies: "In the younger brother. Herbert West, professor of literature' present day, If they attain their I Nov. 24-Wrote the first two par!'-· boasted end it must be oy tihe arm I !fl"aphs, calling the bOok temporarily at Dartmouth, has written: "An American novelist, whose of some naiion, to whom, for want Cf~e Splendid Ra'bt>le, merits as a historical writer of fiction of resources to defray the expenses Dec. !~ailed for Italy. bee. 24, T have ~ot been sufficiently under- of their alliance, she will be in con· arrived at Porto Santo Stafano. stood, lS Kenneth Roberts, of Maine. tinual broils and disputes, which mas Dec. 26-Resumed work on page Hts Chronicles of Arundel, depicting perhaps finally terminate ' n a total 5, mss. book. Jan. 2, changed title to the epic marching and fighting of the subjection, lnd that abje~t slavery Rabble in Ar~. Northern army, are written with a · they so ridiculously pretend to dread 1932-Feb. 1. Quit on the bOok to gusto, a~d with a complete fidelity · from WI,, Roberta hu annotated .write articles, our money having run out. ,~ . ' • .. to historical fact down to the smallFeb. 24-Resumed work on Rabble, est detaU, which to my knowledge no this passage. This 18 Arnolds argu, or writer of his- ment, and his reason for turn,ag mss. page 32: worked steadily tlll American historian torical fiction can equal. Mr. Roberts . against the congressional form of June 2, reaching mss. page 91. Balled travels to Algiers to verify one small I government of 1775-1785- 1. ·ten-ible from Naples. July-August: Revised Arundel. fact. He covers the territory of his j government. This reasonlilg of An, novels almost on hands and knees. burey's ls correct, and America was Sept. 19: Started reading the flrat He seeks almanacs to find the con- only saved by her accidental con.st!- 100,000 words of Rabble to Booth. Read and revised almost dally dltion of the moon on a certain day tutlon." through Oct. 15. SEARCH FOR R:U 171 years ago. He ransacks the Oct. 15-16: Laid out, with Booth's T TH libraries of London, Oxford, Paris, ht:lp, a t.entatlve olltline for the reAnother annotation in this history Rome, New York, Washington, Hanmainder of the bOok. The technical over, N. H., and for all I know he comments on the description of Gen. has worked in Leningrad, the Kam- St. .Clair's retreat from Fort Tlcon- difficulties which the bOok presents chatka Peninsula, Nome, and Bel- deroga in July, 1777. This history will, I fear, never be understood by lows, Falls, vt. Why Americans are reads, "At that the summer nights anyone but Booth and myself. more interested l,p oil for the lamps were at their shortest and the moon Dec. ~iled for Italf. 1933-Jan. 27: Resumed work on of China, or the oft-repeated anec- was full." Roberts has written in dotes of Mr. wooncott, or the be- the margin, "He's a. liar. St. Clair's Rabble In Arms on mss. page 93, wlldering career of Anthony Adverse, testimony was the same, but St. Clair '!'hereafter made at least 1000 wor~ rather than In the stirring tales of was a liar too. In July, 1777, there a day till May 28, when I touchef. their own country's past, ls more was a new moon on July 5, therefore mss. page 205. Sailed from Naplel it set around 7 to 8 P. M. Full moor May 30. than I can understand." June 20: Started reading the :mss. wes on July 20." To prove his point, Mr. Roberts to Booth, revising heavily. Read and AUTHOR AS CRITIC It is in dealing with the biographies has inserted at this page in the book revised daily. Condensed the Indian of Benedlct Arnold that Robertt a contemporary almanac, Rider's material, throwing most of it away. July 22-Moved to Blue Roof (The records some of his choicest mar- British Merlin. This is Roberts workginalla. Isaac Arnold's "Life .of ing away at a small point, but a &,berts' residence In Kennebunk Arnold," published in 1879, he found significant one in an understanding Beach, Me.), for the remainder of the most satisfactory. The margins of Oen. St. Clair's testimony on how the summer. Rewrote, revllled, did of the modern biograpbles of Arnold and why he gave up Fort Ticon- research, and at th'! same tune conhowever, are full of pertinent ques- deroga without a fight. These tiuued to go forward. Went on a. tions, corrections of mistakes, and annotated source bOoks are proof of schedule · of working from 9:30 to shrewd profane comments. Be finds Kenneth Roberts' industry and good \:00, from 3:00 to 8:00 P. M.; having the modem biographers cribbing faith as a writer of historical novels. a half a bottle of beer with dinne? worthless stuff from each other, He has gone to original sources, has and going to the 2d movie show at stumbling into inexcusable errors_. rejected poor work, has ca.refully , the Port: Then writing from 11:30 to
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