Once upon a time, a writer had an idea. They wrote it down. But what happened next? Join Rebecca Lee, professional text-improver, as she embarks on a fascinating journey to find out how words get from an author''s brain to finished, printed books. She''ll reveal the dark arts of ghostwriters, explore the secret world of literary agents and uncover the hidden beauty of typesetting. Along the way, her quest will be punctuated by a litany of little-known (but often controversial) considerations that make a big impact: ellipses, indexes, hyphens, esoteric points of grammar and juicy post-publication corrections. After all, the best stories happen when it all goes wrong. From foot-and-note disease to the town of Index, Missouri - turn the page to discover how books get made and words get good.* * Or, at least, better
With an introduction by comedian and novelist David Baddiel A novel in seven volumes, Marcel Proust''s In Search of Lost Time is considered a major literary work of the twentieth century. And even more crucially, one that you should have read by now. However, as one of its most distinguishing features is its staggering length, many of us feel intimidated and perhaps, even, fatigued at the thought of diving in. Alain de Botton''s hilarious and unexpected Proustian manual, is then, the perfect antidote to this problem.
In How Proust Can Change Your Life, de Botton masterfully distils what Proust says about friendship, reading, being alive and taking your time, and mixes it with his own, no less nourishing commentary. As de Botton rereads Proust for our collective benefit, we see the continued relevance of his work and the rich and varied insights he can offer us, from how to reinvigorate your relationship to being a good host. This is Proust as you''ve never seen him before. He may even change your life.
A miniature manifesto for the endless possibilities of the book form, from the world's most famous living book designer.
In Book Manifest, world-renowned Dutch designer Irma Boom presents her vision on the essence, meaning and relevance of the book. Based on the in-depth research that Boom conducted into the development of the book in the library of the Vatican, Book Manifest is at once a survey of the history of the book and a miniature Irma Boom retrospective, reproducing a selection of more than 350 books she has designed over the course of her eminent career. Alongside reproductions, Boom extensively discusses the relationship between her work and older book forms.
With this tiny (two and a half by three inches), slipcased, 1,000-page, richly illustrated volume, itself an exceptional feat of bookmaking, Boom aims to inspire and encourage a new generation of designers to experiment and develop new ways of conceiving this simplest and most enduringly effective of forms.
Described by Eye Magazine as "the Queen of Books," Irma Boom (born 1960) has created more than 300 books, always challenging the conventions of both design and printed content. She is the youngest recipient of the Gutenberg Prize, recognizing outstanding services to the advancement of the book arts. A selection of Boom's books are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and an Irma Boom Archive has been instituted at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, to showcase her work.
Laoutaris is the recipient of the Morley Medal in English and the Ker Memorial Prize in English. He has reviewed for many academic publishers and journals; has written for the Financial Times, Sunday Express, Times Higher Education Suppl
Why read non-fiction? Is it just to find things out? Or is it for pleasure, challenge, adventure, meaning? Here, in seventy new pieces, some of the most original writers and thinkers of our time give their answers.br>br>From Hilton Als on reading as writing''s dearest companion to Nicci Gerrard on reading for her life; from Malcolm Gladwell on entering the minds of others to Michael Lewis on books as secret discoveries; and from Lea Ypi on the search for freedom to Slavoj Zizek on violent readings, each offers their own surprising perspective on the simple act of turning a page. The result is a celebration of seeing the world in new ways - and of having our minds changed.>
Simon Garfield is the author of twenty books. His previous titles include the international bestsellers JUST MY TYPE, ON THE MAP and MAUVE, while TO THE LETTER was one of the inspirations for the theatre shows Letters Live with Benedict Cum
Claudia Tate (1947-2002) was a professor of English and African-American studies at Princeton University, known for her innovative contributions to African-American literary criticism. Black Women Writers at Work was Tate's first book.
Terence Killeen is Research Scholar at the James Joyce Centre, Dublin. He has published in the James Joyce Quarterly, the James Joyce Literary Supplement and the Joyce Studies Annual. A former journalist with the
Andre Dubus III's seven books include the New York Times bestsellers House of Sand and Fog, The Garden of Last Days, and his memoir, Townie. His most recent novel, Gone So Long, was named on many "Best Books" lists, including The Boston Glo
E.M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel is an innovative and effusive treatise on a literary form that, at the time of publication, had only recently begun to enjoy serious academic consideration. This Penguin Classics edition is edited with an introduction by Oliver Stallybrass, and features a new preface by Frank Kermode. First given as a series of lectures at Cambridge University, Aspects of the Novel is Forster's analysis of this great literary form. Here he rejects the 'pseudoscholarship' of historical criticism - 'that great demon of chronology' - that considers writers in terms of the period in which they wrote and instead asks us to imagine the great novelists working together in a single room. He discusses aspects of people, plot, fantasy and rhythm, making illuminating comparisons between novelists such as Proust and James, Dickens and Thackeray, Eliot and Dostoyevsky - the features shared by their books and the ways in which they differ. Written in a wonderfully engaging and conversational manner, this penetrating work of criticism is full of Forster's habitual irreverence, wit and wisdom. In his new introduction, Frank Kermode discusses the ways in which Forster's perspective as a novelist inspired his lectures. This edition also includes the original introduction by Oliver Stallybrass, a chronology, further reading and appendices. E. M. Forster (1879-1970) was a noted English author and critic and a member of the Bloomsbury group. His first novel, Where Angels Fear To Tread appeared in 1905. The Longest Journey appeared in 1907, followed by A Room With A View (1908), based partly on the material from extended holidays in Italy with his mother. Howards End (1910) was a story that centered on an English country house and dealt with the clash between two families, one interested in art and literature, the other only in business. Maurice was revised several times during his life, and finally published posthumously in 1971. If you enjoyed Aspects of the Novel , you might like Forster's A Room with a View , also available in Penguin Classics.
From "the most powerful book critic in the English-speaking world" ( Vanity Fair ) comes a personal, thought-provoking list of 100 life-changing books she wouldn't want you to miss--beautifully illustrated with original essays on each recommendation. Legendary former New York Times critic and bestselling author Michiko Kakutani once again brings her wealth of knowledge and passion about books to the public--but this time with her personal selections of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that have had a profound effect on her life. More than just recommendations, Ex Libris covers a broad range of topics that help make a person a well-rounded reader and citizen of the world--from the historical (Federalist Papers, The Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. ) to the timely (Elizabeth Kolbert's harrowing The Sixth Extinction , Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale ) to the fantastical (the Harry Potter novels, Where the Wild Things Are ). With richly detailed illustrations by lettering artist and designer Dana Tanamachi that evoke vintage bookplates interspersed among Kakutani's passionate essays about her beloved books, Ex Libris is always pointing us to our next great read.
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ''If you want to write a novel or a script, read this book'' Sunday Times '' The best book on the craft of storytelling I''ve ever read'' Matt Haig ''Rarely has a book engrossed me more, and forced me to question everything I''ve ever read, seen or written. A masterpiece'' Adam Rutherford Why stories make us human and how to tell them better. There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story - but few have used a scientific approach. In this incisive, thought-provoking book, award-winning writer Will Storr demonstrates how master storytellers manipulate and compel us. Applying dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to the foundations of our myths and archetypes, he shows how we can use these tools to tell better stories - and make sense of our chaotic modern world. INCLUDES NEW MATERIAL.
Rooms of Their Own travels around the world examining the unique spaces, habits and rituals in which famous writers created their most notable works.
The perennial question asked of all authors is, 'How do you write?'. What do they require of their room or desk? Do they have favourite pens, paper or typewriters? And have they found the perfect daily routine to channel their creativity? Crossing centuries, continents and genres, Alex Johnson has pooled 50 of the best writers and transports you to the heart of their writing rooms - from attics and studies to billiard rooms and bathtubs.
Discover the ins and outs of how each great writer penned their famous texts, and the routines and habits they perfected. Meet authors who rely on silence and seclusion and others who need people, music and whisky. Meet those who travel half-way across the world to a luxury writing retreat, and others who just need an empty shed at the bottom of the garden. Some are particular about pencils, inks, paper and typewriters, and others will scribble on anything - including the furniture. But whether they write in the library or in cars, under trees, private islands, hotel rooms or towers - each of these stories confirms that there is no 'best way' to write.
From James Baldwin, writing in the small hours of the morning in his Paris apartment, to DH Lawrence writing at the foot of a towering Ponderosa pine tree, to the Bronte sisters managing in a crowded co-working space, this book takes us into the lives of some of history's greatest ever writers, with each writing space illustrated in evocative watercolour by James Oses.
In looking at the working lives of our favourite authors, bibliophiles will be transported to other worlds, aspiring writers will find inspiration and literature fans will gain deeper insight into their most-loved authors.
