Book excerpt: The Genius of Aldous Huxley is an attempt to make a critical analysis of Aldous Huxley’s novels, essays and plays. The significant results of his stance in terms of his critical heritage were threefold: the explicit message of the later fiction struck most readers as being detrimental to its artistry; criticism of Huxley’s craft often became indistinguishable from criticism of his ideas; the popular response to Huxley’s work continued to grow, but the critical reception declined. While they were looking to him for guidance, practically none of Huxley’s readers were prepared for the directions he took in the coming books. His critics had so consistently overlooked the deeper import of the earlier work that the new outspoken idealism seemed an abrupt reversal, if not a contradiction of attitudes. The shift of emphasis in Huxley’s work introduced during the war years a period of new ferment and trial for his critical reputation. The volume of response never slackened; if anything, it increased. He has revealed himself as one of the few capable makers of cultural synthesis in our time. His concern for mankind is so obvious that one can only think readers who see nothing in his later fiction but obsessions and bitterness are incapable of appreciating his intentions or his powers.