Hal - a quick search of Mark Twain resources does not confirm this quote
originated with Mark Twain. Newspapers from 1950 attribute it to playwright
George S. Kaufman but not in direct reference to the work of Henry James. I
think Alan Gribben would have included it in MARK TWAIN’S LIBRARY: A
RECONSTRUCTION if it was authentic, but it is not in that edition.

Barb

On Sunday, October 27, 2019, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> My friend Vivian Pollak, notes Dickinson scholar, sent me this query;
> anyone know off the top??
>
>
> Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
>
>
> Hi Hal,
>
> Here's one for you. Where and when did MT say in re Henry James, "Once
> you've put one of his books down, you simply can't pick it up again." The
> internet has different versions of the quote, but no source. And how's
> everything--I'm teaching Daisy Miller tomorrow coming off Huck. The quote
> is a transition----of sorts!
>
> Best,
> Vivian
>