SOURCE: Braybrooke, Patrick. “A. C. Benson and The Thread of Gold.” In Peeps at the Mighty, pp. 59-76. New York: Books for Libraries Press Inc., 1966.

In the following essay, originally published in 1927, Braybrooke defends The Thread of Gold against critics who charge Benson with superficiality.

Since the very lamented death of the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, certain critics while admitting the charm of Mr. Benson's writings, have added at the same time, that they savour of superficiality. Now, I have an idea that these critics have rather confused simplicity with superficiality. Rather, I go further and say that Mr. Benson is profound. He is profound because he is simple, his truths, his problems are not dressed up in ornate trappings, nor are they unclothed and mere skeletons; they are put down in a straightforward way. Taking rather at random, one of his most popular books of Essays...