a masculine world: the woman watches her manners; she does not dare to irritate, explore, explode; she thinks she has to excuse her literary pretensions by her modesty and good taste; she relies on the proven values of conformism; she introduces just the personal note that is expected of her into her literature: she points out that she is a woman with some well chosen affectations, simpering, and preciosities; so she will excel at producing 'best sellers,' but she cannot be counted on to blaze new trails.