On the Art of Writing [Paperback]

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2006 | ISBN-10: 048645004X | ISBN-13: 978-0486450049

A renowned critic and scholar addresses the artistic and vital nature of language as well as the skills needed to convey and receive the written word. A compilation of principles and practical guidelines, this enduring guide examines the practice of writing, the use of jargon, style, and the history of English literature.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863-1944), who often published under the pen-name of 'Q', was one of the giants of early twentieth-century literature and literary criticism. A novelist and poet who was also a Professor of English, he helped to form the literary tastes of generations of literary students and scholars who came after him. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048645004X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486450049
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book that Inspired Helene Hanff's Charing Cross, July 8, 2007

By 

Fran Stewart "franstewart.com" (Hog Mountain, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Art of Writing (Lectures delivered in the University of Cambridge 1913-1914) (Paperback)

This slender volume is the book that began Helene Hanff's journey -- a path that led eventually to her writing the 84, CHARING CROSS ROAD series. Because I loved her books, I wondered what the master who taught her might have had to say. All I knew of him was what I had learned through Ms. Hanff.

This series of lectures, delivered in England more than nine decades ago, sparkles with a dry wit that is utterly endearing. No wonder his students loved him. Still, for someone who is the product of a late-20th century education, I must admit I was appalled by my ignorance of the classical references he made, expecting that his students would follow them with ease. Not a light-weight book, despite its compact size.

His challenge to his students, put forth in the first lecture, was to become a person [he said a man, but the statement applies to all of us] "of unmistakable intellectual breeding, whose trained judgment we can trust to choose the better and reject the worse." Not a bad goal for anyone, is it?

A word of warning. He quotes in Greek here and there -- and does not translate it, since all his students were expected to understand that language. Ditto Latin.

If you can manage only two chapters, try the first "Inaugural" and the last "On Style."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do Not Buy the General Books Edition!, October 14, 2009

By 

David Merkel "Aleph Blog" (Ellicott City, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the art of writing (Paperback)

Very good book -- but the edition published by General Books is sloppily put together, unformatted, missing large chunks of text, contains garbled and nonsense words. Buy a different edition!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read!, April 7, 2008

By 

sew (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Art of Writing (Dodo Press) (Paperback)

I bought this with "Q's" On the Art of Reading. I'm halfway through this one and can't wait to start the other one. I'm constantly going back to review my old Latin/Greek HS and university readings and have enjoyed the process immensely.