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azambetti's picture

An Original Tale?

Submitted by azambetti on Tue, 04/03/2007 - 2:36pm.

On the back of my particular version of On Beauty, there is a quote from a writer from The New York Times stating “a thoroughly original tale,” which is an undeniable lie, having read Howards End.  How is this book even slightly original when it “thoroughly” copies a previously written book?  I have been upset about On Beauty’s originality since I read its first line, which unquestionably mimics that of Howards End. 

Howards End’s first line: “One may as well begin with Helen’s letters to her sister” (Forster 3)

On Beauty’s first line: “One may as well begin with Jerome’s e-mails to his father” (Smith 3)

This anger comes even with being forewarned that On Beauty was based off of Howards End.  I guess I hadn’t understood the sheer amount of reproduction this entailed.

Andrea Zambetti

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