I cringe when critics say I'm a master of the popular novel. What's an unpopular novel?

I cringe when critics say I'm a master of the popular novel. What's an unpopular novel?

当评论家说我是通俗小说的大师时，我感到畏缩。什么是不受欢迎的小说?

-- Irwin Shaw 欧文·肖