The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase

US: Penguin Publishing Group, 2014. Paperback. Very Good. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. From the #1 international bestselling author of The Etymologicon and The Ho rologicon comes an education in the art of articulation, from the King Jame s Bible to Katy Perry... From classic poetry to pop lyrics, from Charles Dickens to Dolly Parton, ev en from Jesus to James Bond, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase--such as "O Captain! My Captain!" or "To be or not to be"--memorable . In his inimitably entertaining and wonderfully witty style, he takes apart famous phrases and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare or quip lik e Oscar Wilde. Whether you're aiming to achieve literary immortality or jus t hoping to deliver the perfect one-liner, The Elements of Eloquence proves that you don't need to have anything important to say--you simply need to say it well. In an age unhealthily obsessed with the power of substance, this is a book that highlights the importance of style.