"Familiar life, tending to sordidness, had been succeeded by remote life, generally idealized; historical detail had been brought in to teach readers who were being entertained"

In this quote, Carl Clinton Van Doren is discussing the evolution of literature and how it has actually moved from illustrating ordinary, everyday life to representing more far-off and romanticized settings. He recommends that historical details are now being incorporated into stories in order to inform and amuse readers. This could be seen as a reflection of society's desire for escapism and a fascination with the past. Van Doren also suggests that this modification in literature might be a result of individuals's discontentment with their own lives and a yearning for something more amazing and idealized. In general, the quote highlights the impact of literature on society and how it shows and influences our perceptions of the world.