"Others, amounting to four novels and a mess of short stories which I did not think worth preserving, I have done my best to eliminate from the record by refusing all requests for permission to reprint them, and I hope I have done a good job of making them hard to unearth"

In this quote, Leslie Charteris, a prolific author best known for developing the character Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", reveals an important perspective on a few of his own works. By stating that "others, amounting to four novels and a mess of short stories which I did not believe worth maintaining", Charteris acknowledges a subset of his literary output that he personally deemed inferior or unworthy of lasting recognition. This candid admission supplies an introspective look into his self-assessment as an author and his selective consideration of what makes up important or significant work within his oeuvre.

Charteris's admission of his efforts to "eliminate [them] from the record" by actively refusing demands to reprint these works highlights his desire to curate how his work is perceived by future readers. This suggests a strong sense of authorial control and duty over his legacy. It suggests that Charteris is not merely thinking about the volume of his published work, however in preserving a specific level of quality or merit in what stays accessible to his audience. His hope of having actually "done a good job of making them difficult to uncover" reveals an intentional effort to erase or lessen the visibility of works that do not match his requirements or that he feels may diminish his reputation.

From a literary and important point of view, Charteris's technique brings to the fore concerns relating to the author's function in forming their legacy and the extent to which they have the ability to control the story of their career beyond their life time. It likewise welcomes reflection on the nature of literary benefit and the sometimes arbitrary lines authors and critics draw in between work considered considerable which is not. Charteris's desire to reduce certain works might also provoke interest among readers and scholars, who might question what specific qualities led him to disapprove of those pieces, consequently contributing to ongoing discussions about the subjective nature of literary worth and legacy.