The New Oxford Book of English ProseJohn Gross Oxford University Press, 1998 - 1012 pages Prose, strictly defined, is the ordinary form of spoken or written language. Examples of solid prose are not difficult to come by: a well argued legal judgment, a lucid scientific paper, or a readily grasped set of technical instructions. Inspired prose, however, is a much rarer thing. In The New Oxford Book of English Prose, John Gross has gathered together those rare jewels of the English language that take plain prose to artistic heights. The pared-down style of Hemingway didnt happen overnight. Beginning with Sir Thomas Malory and ending with Kazuo Ishiguro, this anthology chronologically traces the evolution of prose, which gained confidence and extended its range in the late seventeenth century. It wasnt until the eighteenth century, however, that the ornate style of literary giants like Milton and Donne gave way to prose that was recognizably modern. The material included in this anthology is literary, but literary, as the editor states in the introduction, is not the narrow term that it is often made to beit embraces an enormous range of experience and response. The New Oxford Book of English Prose pays tribute to literatures vibrant diversity by offering glimpses of master craftsmanship from around the globe. Included here are excerpts from writers of such varied backgrounds as Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Vladimir Nabokov, and Mulk Raj Anand. From the eloquent political treatises of Burke to the bold narrative strokes of Herman Melville, readers will find that the selections contained within this volume superbly illustrate the expressive powers of prose. |
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Page 242
... appeared dry and dead . There then appeared a being , small of size , full of strength and resolution , moving swift from the north , southward , called a sun worm . Another thing remarkable in my childhood was that once , going to a ...
... appeared dry and dead . There then appeared a being , small of size , full of strength and resolution , moving swift from the north , southward , called a sun worm . Another thing remarkable in my childhood was that once , going to a ...
Page 327
... appeared close to them , meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room ; but on perceiving Mr Darcy he stopt with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on his dancing and his partner . ' I have been most highly ...
... appeared close to them , meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room ; but on perceiving Mr Darcy he stopt with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on his dancing and his partner . ' I have been most highly ...
Page 659
... appeared in the sea and the water had receded from the beach . I fancied I saw some black object flopping about upon this bank , but it became motionless as I looked at it , and I judged that my eye had been deceived , and that the ...
... appeared in the sea and the water had receded from the beach . I fancied I saw some black object flopping about upon this bank , but it became motionless as I looked at it , and I judged that my eye had been deceived , and that the ...
Contents
WILLIAM CAXTON | 6 |
WILLIAM ROPER | 21 |
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER | 23 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
appeared arms asked beauty become began believe better body called carried coming course dark death desire door English eyes face fall father fear feel felt friends give half hand head hear heard heart hope human Italy keep kind king knew Lady least leave less light live London look Lord manner matter means mind morning moved nature never night once passed perhaps person play poor present reason rest round seemed seen sense short side sometimes soon sort sound speak stand streets sure talk tell things thought told took trees true turned voice walked whole window wish woman write young
References to this book
Victorian Culture and Society: The Essential Glossary Adam Charles Roberts No preview available - 2003 |
L'Afrique peut-elle s'en sortir?: pourquoi l'aide publique ne marche pas Robert Calderisi Limited preview - 2006 |