Analyzing Prose (Scribner English Series) (Hardcover)

by Richard A. Lanham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This second edition of the classic linguistics text provides a basic descriptive terminology for prose style. What is a noun style? A verb style? A hypotactic or a paratactic one? How does the running style differ from the periodic style? What do "high, middle, and low" prose style mean? How might one apply the classical terminology of rhetorical figures to prose analysis? Analyzing Prose supplies detailed, carefully charted answers to these questions in order to teach the student of prose style how and where to begin. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (March 1983)
• ISBN-10: 0023675608
• ISBN-13: 978-0023675607
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,946,671 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scribners: reprint this book!, September 7, 2001

By	Michael Karman (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I taught college writing classes for 17 years and have been an editor for a computer software company for nine. So far, Lanham's "Analyzing Prose" is the only completely reliable book about writing and language I have come across. It's not an easy book. As Lanham says, "We are simply not trained to look at the words on the page." And to read this book, you have to look at the words on the page. If you're up for the challenge, get this book. It won't be easy to find. It won't be cheap once you've found it. It won't be easy to read once you buy it. But as you realize how rewarding looking at words can be, really looking at them and not just through them, you will thank me over and over again for writing this review. And you will thank Richard Lanham over and over again for writing this splendid book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Capable but Dry, Rehash of "Revising Prose", January 10, 2007

By	Andrew Rock (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Analyzing Prose (Paperback)

Unless your are a professional teacher of technical prose analysis, I'd stay clear of this book. I got it because I loved and still use regularly, Revising Prose. I thought rather than get the more recent edition of the Revising Prose, I'd try this more scholarly Analyzing Prose. Half a mistake; I regifted the book to my sister-in-law who works in the profession, for whom this is probably a good book to have around or at least it justifies having it. But for the (even professional) more general writer/editor, stick to Revising Prose.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great tool for close analysis!, March 8, 2007

By	Camille Battle - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Analyzing Prose (Paperback)

A must have for any college level english course; great guide for effective close readings.