Max Nordau. (№ 412499)

This artistic principle falls into the hands of the dung beetles crawling behind Zola. Their mediocrity becomes a brilliant virtue for them. They know nothing, are not capable of anything, and therefore have a special predilection for the "modern", as they put it. In their so-called novels there are no people, no characters, no plot, no denouement, no positions, but this is their merit, O pathetic, stupid profane who do not notice it!