Ernest Temple Thurston (September 23, 1879 March 19, 1933) was an Anglo-Irish poet, playwright and author.
Extract
If only it were possible to begin these things at the beginning. If only, and with perfect honesty, I could tell you that this romance of the house-tops began the moment that Peggy saw the light of the farthing candle in the trembling hand of Nicolas Gadd, as he entered the dingy little room of the house opposite. But I am obsessed with so scrupulous a sense of truthfulness when it comes to the lives of real people, that where there is ignorance, I must willy-nilly confess to it. Invention will not do. For a few steps in the march of events, it might carry you along with me; but as sure as fate should I find myself caught in some hazard on the way and then, how could I blame myself when you faced -about, leaving me to pursue the journey by myself?
Extract
If only it were possible to begin these things at the beginning. If only, and with perfect honesty, I could tell you that this romance of the house-tops began the moment that Peggy saw the light of the farthing candle in the trembling hand of Nicolas Gadd, as he entered the dingy little room of the house opposite. But I am obsessed with so scrupulous a sense of truthfulness when it comes to the lives of real people, that where there is ignorance, I must willy-nilly confess to it. Invention will not do. For a few steps in the march of events, it might carry you along with me; but as sure as fate should I find myself caught in some hazard on the way and then, how could I blame myself when you faced -about, leaving me to pursue the journey by myself?