A systematic analysis of the titles of works of fiction, if undertaken in a scientific spirit, might lead to some interesting, if not positively valuable, re-suits. A collection, classification, and comparison of the products of the mental energy—we had almost said agony—expended in thinking up appropriate names for stories might possibly come within the scope of the work of the Society for Psychical Research. So serious an undertaking as a matter of scientific or philosophical speculation, however, is out of place here. But, nevertheless, it may interest the readers of this department to have called to their attention a few curiosities in the titles of recent novels which, possibly, have escaped them. To be sure, nothing of any very profound significance is disclosed, nothing more, perhaps, than a series of coincidences. The title of Mrs. Wharton’s book, “The House of Mirth,” was a striking one, though if it had not been the name of the most successful book of the winter, it might have attracted little notice of itself. But the very popularity of the book, the talk it created, put its name into the mouth of everybody, and so the reiteration of the title began to attract attention; it was even used, we believe, to describe a house in Albany dedicated to the entertainment of members of the legislature. Next appeared another popular book, “The House of a Thousand Candles,” and it is easy to see how curiosity was stimulated to discover other titles of novels with similar names. No great effort or research was required to make up this list:
- “The House of Cards,”
- “The House of Hawley,”
- “The House of Dreams,”
- “The House of Sin,”
- “The House of Fulfilment,”
- “The House of Merrilees,”
- “The House of Mystery,”
- “The House of the Black Ring,”
- “The House of Mirth,”
- “The House of a Thousand Candles,”
- “The House of a Hundred Lights,”
- “The House in the Mist.”
In the same way other names with a key word, so to speak, were suggested, hearts, for instance, being as popular as houses. Here are some of them:
- “Heart’s Haven,”
- “Heart’s Desire,”
- “Hearts and Masks,”
- “Hearts in Exile,”
- “Brave Hearts,”
- “Contrite Hearts,”
- “The Heart of Lady Anne,”
- “The Heart of a Girl,”
- “The Heart of Hope,”
- “The Heart of the World,”
- “The Heart of Happy Hollow,”
- “The Heart of Rome,”
- “Jules of the Great Heart.”
More curious than these, however, is the attraction that colors seem to have for title-makers, and in this list the degree of popularity of each color is noticeable:
- “The Black Motor-Car,”
- “The Black Barque,”
- “The House of the Black Ring,”
- “Black Friday,”
- “Black Beauty,”
- “The Black Arrow,”
- “The Black Spaniel,”
- “The Red Cravat,”
- “The Red Triangle,”
- “The Red Book of Romance.”
- “The Red Window,”
- “The White Terror and the Red,”
- “For the White Christ,”
- “White Aprons,”
- “The White Cat,”
- “The Yellow Cat,”
- “The Yellow Journalist,”
- “The Yellow Holly,”
- “Purple Peaks Remote,”
- “The Purple Parasol,”
- “Purple and Fine Linen,”
- “Green Mansions,”
- “The Green Shay,”
- “The Gray World,”
- “The Blue Cockade,”
- “The Scarlet Pimpernel,”
- “The Scarlet Empire.”
It may be considered doubtful whether “Freckles” should be included in this list, but our readers can take their choice according to their tastes.
If space permitted, this sort of thing could be carried on almost indefinitely. Flowers, fruits, and precious stones, man, woman, girl, are made to do duty, as well as all the family relatives, except “father.” Mother, daughter, and brother are to be found.
The selection of a name for a story has a good deal to do with its success, as authors and publishers know, sometimes to their cost. Just how much careful forethought is given to the problem in individual cases is indicated to some extent by the showing that these titles make.
This is an excerpt from the book review column of Ainslee’s Magazine, which we’re planning on scanning for DP. It may be a while until we get to it, since we’ve got quite a long list to do, but sometimes I can’t wait to share the good stuff.