Those who can write novels, those who can’t write plays
Interesting piece in today's Guardian by Philip Hensher about great novelists not being able to reproduce their flair went it comes to writing plays, and vice versa. Hensher cites Chekhov as the major exception to the rule. I think the big one he misses out, the opimium smoking elephant in the room if you like, is Oscar Wilde. In its very different way, the Picture of Dorian Gray is every bit as good as the Importance of Being Earnest, which, before some smart-arse gets their oar in, is very good indeed.
