There is the (in)famous description of a typical Henry James novel by H. G. Wells:
“It [any novel by James] is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string. . . .”
Of this passage Kenneth Rexroth wrote:
"It has been quoted by every high-toned critic in three languages. If it doesn’t appear at least once in four numbers in any of our literary quarterlies, I am sure they would penitently refund your subscription. It is supposed to show what an awful boor Wells was, what a dreadful Socialist. It does nothing of the sort. In the context of Wells’s satire
Boon, it is pretty good literary criticism."
That article is more about Wells than James and many might dispute that final sentence but if you want to read the entire article it is here:
http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/es...ames-wells.htm
James. in fact, admired the work of Wells and the two engaged in an interesting exchange of letters.
Personally, I found
What Maisie Knew disturbing but intriguing when I last read it some time ago.