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Overview
A concise anthology of superb classic and creative nonfiction from the twentieth century.
This anthology of seventeen modern essays shows the form at its most varied and dramatic. Purposefully concise, it gathers together exemplars of the personal narrative, the argument, the anecdotal essay, digressive discourse, the "open letter," and others. Some of the most engaging authors of our time write on subjects as diverse as becoming a doctor, cattle grazing rights, the death of Socrates, Anne Frank, computer culture, and how to detect "baloney" in all the verbiage that surrounds us.
Included in the collection are essays by George Orwell, W. H. Auden, Bruno Bettelheim, Eudora Welty, Martin Luther King Jr., Joan Didion, Edward Abbey, Leo Marx, I. F. Stone, Pico Iyer, Amy Tan, Lewis Thomas, Barbara Kingsolver, Ann S. Causey, Carl Sagan, Ellen Ullman, and Opal Palmer Adisa. Arranged in chronological order, each selection begins with a note about the author and the essay that follows. The introduction discusses the history of the essay form and the reasons for its special vitality.
The Eloquent Essay engages the intellect and the passions, and offers the general reader the pleasures of cogent written discourse. At the same time, its carefully selected essays—each one superbly written and accessible—are well suited to study and discussion.
Synopsis
A concise anthology of superb classic and creative nonfiction from the twentieth century.
KLIATT
Author, editor, and teacher John Loughery suggests in his introduction that "essays continue to find enthusiastic, even passionate audiences." The readers of this aptly named collection will be added to that group. Loughery presents 17 essays chronologically, beginning with George Orwell's "A Hanging" (1931) and concluding with Opal Palmer Adisa's "Lying in the Tall Grasses, Eating Cane" (1998). In between are works by such luminaries as W. H. Auden, Eudora Welty, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bruno Bettelheim, and Amy Tan as well as works by lesser-known writers such as Pico Iyer, Ann S. Causey, and Ellen Ullman. This selection validates what Loughery terms "the vitality of a living tradition." Clearly, these essays have been selected not only for what the writer has to say on a given topic, but also for the writer's use of techniques that convey that message most effectively to the reader. Simply put, there is not a bad essay in the lot. Eudora Welty in "Writing and Analyzing a Story" offers insights into the craft of short story writing after cautioning her reader that "story writing and critical analysis are indeed separate gifts, like spelling and playing the flute." In "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr. movingly reminds us that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Leo Marx comments in "Huck at 100" that the centenary of Huckleberry Finn has been characterized by a "curious conjunction of celebration and denunciation." In "In Praise of the Humble Comma," Pico Iyer cleverly suggests that "Punctuation, then, is a matter of care." Lewis Thomas in "Becoming a Doctor" recommends that medical school curriculums be adjusted to allow for "a few courses inmedical ignorance." One final example is that of Carl Sagan, who in "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection" provides his readers with "tools for skeptical thinking." Of particular note is a Teacher's Guide available for those who want to use The Eloquent Essay as a textbook. Loughery's guiding principle here is the belief that "students in English classes write . in too proscribed a fashion." Thus, most of the assignments in the guide are not geared toward writing about the essay just read, but rather writing in that form. In doing so, it is Loughery's hope that students realize "how much analytical and creative writing have in common." The questions and topics for class discussion as well as the possible assignments are worthwhile, fun, and challenging. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Persea, 192p, 21cm, 99-13309, $12.95. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Anthony J. Pucci; English Dept. Chair., Notre Dame H.S., Elmira, NY, September 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 5)
Editorials
VOYA
This wonderful collection of thoughtprovoking essays contains few that have been anthologized recently, the majority written in 1992 or earlier. Their age really is not a factor, though. These essays are as relevant today as when they were penned. The essays included are eXcellent models of good writing, and well they should be, with authors such as George Orwell, Eudora Welty, Joan Didion, Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, and Carl Sagan. One of the most interesting essays in the book, The Ignored Lesson of Anne Frank by Bruno Bettelheim, argues that the Frank family died needlessly. He postulates that had they heeded the warning signs around them and had they been determined to survive at any cost rather than to hide passively, they might have increased their chances of survival. Their denial of the horrible truth around them and their failure to formulate any escape plans sealed their doom. Many selections will leave readers with ideas to ponder long after the essays have been readthat is, if the essays are read. Not many young adults will chose this book for leisure fare. As provocative and challenging as the essays might be, there will be little demand for this title in a public library unless used for a book discussion group. Although few teens will want to read them even as assignments, this book would serve best as a teXtbook and is accompanied by a teacher's guide. Teacher's Guide VOYA CODES: 5Q 1P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; No YA will read unless forced to for assignments; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2000, Persea Books, 210p, $12.95 Trade pb. Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Melissa ThackerSOURCE: VOYA,October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4) <%ISBN%> 0892552417