Edward “It was a dark and stormy night” Bulwer-Lytton was the world’s worst ever writer.
We know this because there is the Bulwer-Lytton contest for the worst novel-opening paragraphs from the previous year.
Charles Dickens, despite my own opinion of the man, is considered by others to be a novelist of great import and quality.
In wondering, as one does, about the measurable difference between good and bad writing I was interested to find a quiz on just this subject. Being given a quote I had to decide whether it was written by E B-L or by C D.
I scored 42% or 5/12.
Just as interesting as the quiz is the page showing the scientific analysis of the 3,000+ results the quiz master has received.
Filed under: Qizzes, entertainment, literature | Tagged: , bulwer-lytton, Dickens, literature
I got 50%
I got 75 per cent. In a rush. Just going with instincts. Basically I just scanned for little bits of irritating prose. Apparently it worked…most of the time.
Intriguing, thanks. (And long time no see…hope you’re well)
nursemyra, interesting – my 42% left me feeling pretty god because it proved to me that I was right about Dickens’ poor writing.
Alabaster, wow – that is impressive. I’m well, just gone through a lazy time on my blogroll – I’m back on it again now
I scored 50%. Like you, I felt vindicated by this quiz in my opinion that Dickens is a crappy writer.
Another 42%-er. I can’t stand Dickens either — his writing is very dull. Mostly I just checked one box or the other because they all seemed equally bad. Besides I always liked “It was a dark and stormy night”. Sounds like a truism to me.
WC and Marty, it seems we agree on Dickens – I’m glad I’m not alone.