I went on steadily trying to 'find out how to'; but I wrote two or three novels without feeling that I had made much progress. It was not until I wrote "Ethan From" that I suddenly felt the artisan's full control of his implements. When "Ethan From" first appeared I was severely criticized by the reviewers for what was considered the clumsy structure of the tale. I had pondered long on this structure, had felt its peculiar difficulties, and possible awkwardness, but could think of no alternative which would serve as well in the given case: and though I am far from thinking "Ethan From" my best novel, and am bored and even exasperated when I am told that it is, I am still sure that its structure is not its weak point.

A Backward Glance