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 10
... desire of his mind is so fixed upon his game , that all these pains be thought to him but very pleasures . And therefore I may well say that love is the prin- cipal thing that maketh any work easy , though the work be right painful of ...
... desire of his mind is so fixed upon his game , that all these pains be thought to him but very pleasures . And therefore I may well say that love is the prin- cipal thing that maketh any work easy , though the work be right painful of ...
Page 46
... desire to be happy how were it pos- sible that all men should have it ? All men have . Therefore this desire in man is natural . It is not in our power not to do the same ; how should it then be in our power to do it coldly or remissly ...
... desire to be happy how were it pos- sible that all men should have it ? All men have . Therefore this desire in man is natural . It is not in our power not to do the same ; how should it then be in our power to do it coldly or remissly ...
Page 630
... desires perish in their gratification , but the desire of knowledge never : the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing . Other desires become the occasion of pain through dearth of the material to gratify them ...
... desires perish in their gratification , but the desire of knowledge never : the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing . Other desires become the occasion of pain through dearth of the material to gratify them ...
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 |