I read the newspaper avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction

I read the newspaper avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction

Arthur Christopher Benson, known as A.C. Benson, was a British essayist, poet, and author who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a prolific writer, producing a wide range of works including essays, poetry, and novels. One of his most famous quotes is, “I read the newspaper avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction.”

For Benson, the newspaper was not just a source of information about current events, but also a form of entertainment and escape. In a time before television and the internet, the newspaper was one of the main sources of news and entertainment for people. Benson saw the newspaper as a form of fiction because it presented stories and narratives that were often sensationalized or dramatized to capture the reader's attention.

In Benson's view, reading the newspaper was a way to immerse oneself in a world of drama, intrigue, and excitement. The stories in the newspaper were like a never-ending soap opera, with new twists and turns every day. For Benson, the newspaper was a form of continuous fiction because it provided a constant stream of stories and narratives that kept the reader engaged and entertained.

Benson's love of the newspaper as a form of continuous fiction speaks to the power of storytelling and the human desire for narrative. We are drawn to stories that captivate us, that transport us to other worlds and other lives. The newspaper, with its mix of news, features, and opinion pieces, offers a rich tapestry of stories that can both inform and entertain.