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Style: An Anti-Textbook

by (Paul Dry Books)

(31 reviews)

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"A necessary manual for those interested in the perpetuation, and the possibilities, of good English prose." -- Harper's Magazine

"[Lanham's] style is notable for its audacity, liveliness, and grace." -- The Times Literary Supplement

"The most applicably provocative book on the subject of prose style available. Imperative reading for all teachers and students of writing." -- Choice

This humorous and accessible classic on style calls for the return of wordplay and delight to writing instruction. Richard Lanham argues that many tomes on writing, with their trio of platitudes -- clarity, plainness, sincerity -- lie "upon the spirit like wet cardboard."

"People seldom write to be clear. They have designs on their fellow men. Pure prose is as rare as pure virtue, and for the same reasons... The Books [Lanham's term for misguided composition textbooks], written for a man and world yet unfallen, depict a ludicrous process like this: 'I have an idea. I want to present this gift to my fellow man. I fix this thought clearly in mind. I follow the rules. Out comes a prose that gift-wraps thought in transparent paper.' If this sounds like a travesty, it's because it is one. Yet it dominates prose instruction in America." -- from Chapter 1

Richard A. Lanham is professor emeritus of English at the University of California, Los Angeles, and president of Rhetorica, Inc., a consulting and editorial services company. He is the author of numerous books on writing, including A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, Analyzing Prose, The Electronic Word, and most recently, The Economics of Attention.

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  • We started tracking this book on March 22, 2012.
  • This book was $9.95 when we started tracking it.
  • The price of this book has changed 5 times in the past 4,875 days.
  • The current price of this book is $9.96 last checked 16 hours ago.
  • This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past six months is $9.95.
  • This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $9.84.
  • The lowest price to date was $9.84 last reached on September 25, 2012.
  • This book has been $9.84 one time since we started tracking it.
  • The highest price to date was $9.99 last reached on May 28, 2015.
  • This book has been $9.99 one time since we started tracking it.

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Additional Info

  • Publication Date: September 25, 2011
  • Text-to-Speech: Disabled
  • Lending: Disabled
  • Print Length: 222 Pages
  • File Size: 299 KB

We last verified the price of this book about 16 hours ago. At that time, the price was $9.96. This price is subject to change. The price displayed on the Amazon.com website at the time of purchase is the price you will pay for this book. Please confirm the price before making any purchases.