This a brief review of Isabella Kelly’s new four volume novel “The Secret”, from The Monthly Review of October 1806
Those who delight in useless mysteries and unnecessary horrors may perhaps be gratified by reading these volumes: but, in our judgment, the contemplation of such stories is attended with worse consequences than the mere waste of time. It tends to produce a sickly and irritable state of mind, gives a temporary shock even to intellects that are sound and healthy, but enervates and permanently diseases those which are weak.
I seem to remember being told that television or video games produced a similar effect. There’s always some one around to spoil one’s enjoyment.
source:
http://www.british-fiction.cf.ac.uk/titleDetails.asp?title=1805A041