这个是使用简单词汇的版本 Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past 25 years, perhaps the most important has been the unstoppable decrease in the range and seriousness of their arts articles. It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when very good arts articles could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a very big number of the best groups of such articles published in the 20th century were basically newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to be amazed by the fact that their knowledgeable contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation newspapers. We are even farther removed from the wide range of newspaper reviews published in England between the start of the 20th century(1900) and the start of World War II(1939), at a time when newsprint was very cheap and great arts articles were considered an good addition to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the writers of major papers would write long articles about the things they talked about. Theirs was a serious job, and even those reviewers who were not too proud of their knowledge, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a serious job, and were proud to be published in the daily newspapers. “So few authors are clever enough or good enough at writing to keep their own end up in journalism, ” Newman wrote, “that I am tempted to define ‘journalism’ as ‘a term of dislike used by writers who are not read to writers who are ’.” Unfortunately, these critics are almost forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the sport of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England’s best classical-music writers, and a very good writer so widely loved that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown and only some experts know it. Is there any chance that Cardus’s articles will be popular again? It seems unlikely. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and readers now have little use for the richly complex Victorian(1837-1901) and Edwardian(1901-1914) style at which he was good. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music articles has been unpopular for a long time.
这个是使用简单句子的版本 Many changes have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century. One is the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage. This is perhaps the most far-reaching of all the changes. In the past, high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. It is difficult for the average reader under the age of forth to imagine such a time. It is difficult to the poit of impossibility. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. Their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies. If you read these books today, you will have to marvel at this fact. Between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, newsprint was dirt-cheap. At that time, stylish arts criticism appeared in publications and were considered an ornament to them. And the newspaper reviews published in England were unfocused. We are even farther removed from these reviews. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business. Reviewers like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman wore their learning lightly. We could still trust they knew what they were about.These men believed in journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. "So few authors have brains enough or literary gifts enough to keep their own end up in journalism. This makes me define 'journalism' as 'a term of contempt'. Writers who are not read, applies this term to writers who are.", Newman wrote. Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975. He is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England’s foremost classical-music critics, and a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, and was the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists. Is there any chance that Cardus’s criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death. He specialized in richly upholstered Vicwardian prose but postmodern readers have little use for this. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.