Yet all came to the same thing in the sequel.

On an average, a volume of "Caleb Williams" cost me four months, neither less nor more.
It must be admitted, however, that during the whole period, bating a few intervals, my mind was in a high state of excitement.

I said to myself a thousand times, "I will write a tale that shall constitute an epoch in the mind of the reader, that no one, after he has read it, shall ever be exactly the same man that he was before."-- I put these things down just as they happened, and with the most entire frankness.

I know that it will sound like the most pitiable degree of self-conceit.

But such perhaps ought to be the state of mind of an author when he does his best.