Genre:

Letter, Illustration, Publishing

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Invention, Technology

    After announcing that he was unsuccessful in manufacturing a 'Lawyer's Clerk', J Babbage (an allusion to Charles Babbage) informs Punch that he has completed a 'New Patent Mechanical Novel Writer, adapted to all styles, and all subjects; pointed, pathetic, historic, silverfork, and Minerva'. Supports his invention with testimonials purportedly from some distinguished writers. G P R James (an allusion to the novelist George P R James) claims that the invention can produce a 3-volume novel in 48 hours while E L Bulwer Lytton, (an allusion to the novelist Edward G E L Bulwer-Lytton) stresses that the machine produces novels with such attractive features as 'capital situations, ornate descriptions', and 'accommodating morality'. The illustration shows the machine in action.