Sure, I would agree that great literature has been shunned – a result of schools and parents not teaching literature, writing, and ethics (humanities) in the first place.
(This idea is the entire foundation of the book below.)
“Good” is hard to put a finger on though – because art is so subjective.
But what do I know?
Childhood’s End was a novel by Arthur C. Clarke, whom Lewis had corresponded with prior, arguing about the insanity of pursuing technology without virtue.
Lewis thought it a fool’s errand.
And yes, there is still no break in the clouds, in fact, I think it might be getting worse:
When Childhood’s End appeared, Lewis wrote to Joy Gresham, who would later become his wife, and called it “AN ABSOLUTE CORKER.” “It is a strange comment on our age that such a book lies hid in a hideous paper-backed edition, wholly unnoticed by the cognoscenti, while any ‘realistic’ drivel about some neurotic in a London flat—something that needs no real invention at all, something that any educated man could write if he chose, may get seriously reviewed and mentioned in serious books—as if it really mattered. I wonder how long this tyranny will last? Twenty years ago I felt no doubt that I should live to see it all break up and great literature return: But here I am, losing teeth and hair, and still no break in the clouds.”
-Alan Jacobs, The Year Of Our Lord 1943 (Amazon)
