So what’s a good “handbook” for writers? Here’s a possibility–not a dreary manual but an autobiography of one of the Victorian greats, Anthony Trollope.

You can download An Autobiography from Project Gutenberg for free. It comes recommended by Washington Post critic Michael Dirda, who discusses the author at length today. The Trollope autobiography is among Dirda’s top five introductions to “the writing life.” The other picks are:

–“Flaubert’s correspondence, especially with Louise Colet about the composition of Madame Bovary.

–Henry James’s notebooks, overflowing with details about the genesis of his stories and novels.

–Chekhov’s shrewd letters and observations about writing.

–Rupert Hart-Davis’s life of the now-forgotten Hugh Walpole–the story of how a young man of good looks and modest talent made his way in literary London during the early part of the last century.”

I, for one, intend to take Dirda’s advice and read the Trollope autobiography at the very least. Meanwhile, given the royal shafting that most writers suffer all along the way, I would add a sixth work to the list–George Gissing‘s New Grub Street.

But back to Trollope. He should be of special inspiration because of his disciplined schedule and his ability to combine serious fiction with the rest of life, including a fondness for whist and riding to the hounds. He wrote his masterpieces while working as a ‘crat for the British postal service. Along the way, according to Dirda, Trollope “instituted the streetcorner mailbox.”

A little but not entirely off-topic: Coincidentally today the Post also ran a story headined Tiny Mailboxes Pose Bulky Problem. A not-so-abstract issue for writers with a surfeit of magazine subscriptions (but hopefully not too many returned manuscripts)?

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