I haven’t read the article, I admit. I don’t have a problem with “stylish” writing per se. But my problem with Barney’s style, as you’ve shared it, is that it’s inapt. Lightning that “bobs and weaves,” suggesting curved rather than jagged lines? How are storms “wind-tilted” when they are the wind, and tilted objects are usually more substantial than air? Can rain be “stamped”? I’m just honestly confused about what I am supposed to be visualizing or experiencing here.
I think lightning can curve, yes. I imagine seeing the storm on the horizon being pushed along by the wind---hardly an unusual image from the usa surely? even in england you can see the rain far away being pushed along
could you recommend a good introductory, accessible source for understanding more about the literary character and influence of the King James Bible, and perhaps even Tyndale's role in it? (starting to think the KJV might have been a moderately important book within English literature!)
also wondering if and how Tyndale's translations might have influenced Shakespeare, before the formation of the KJV. provocative and instructive as ever, cheers
I rate her v highly! She is exemplary but I don’t know how inventive her style is (obviously technically highly inventive). Would like to read about that some more…
I always felt that in his prescriptions on writing Orwell made a virtue of his own limitations: don't do this because I can't. When I read Pater (a few pages) it seemed like some sort of sick joke that he was lauded so highly. I adore Tuchman, whose name I was pleased to see in these very pages. So too Will Durant, Fitzgerald and Edith Wharton.
I can't remember honestly - it was a few years ago but it struck me as purple. He was talking about nymphs and what not and I think I just can't really process that! As for Wharton, I've only read three of her novels but the style... The House of Mirth trumps The Age of Innocence for me. There's a line in The Custom of the Country (I think) about an American expat in Paris in reference to whom she says something like "...on whose tongue every verb was irregular." I love it.
I haven’t read the article, I admit. I don’t have a problem with “stylish” writing per se. But my problem with Barney’s style, as you’ve shared it, is that it’s inapt. Lightning that “bobs and weaves,” suggesting curved rather than jagged lines? How are storms “wind-tilted” when they are the wind, and tilted objects are usually more substantial than air? Can rain be “stamped”? I’m just honestly confused about what I am supposed to be visualizing or experiencing here.
I think lightning can curve, yes. I imagine seeing the storm on the horizon being pushed along by the wind---hardly an unusual image from the usa surely? even in england you can see the rain far away being pushed along
Fair. "Tilted" for me suggests sturdy, physical objects that lean, which doesn't suit storms or rain.
OED: "Abruptly inclined or sloped from the erect or the horizontal position."
could you recommend a good introductory, accessible source for understanding more about the literary character and influence of the King James Bible, and perhaps even Tyndale's role in it? (starting to think the KJV might have been a moderately important book within English literature!)
also wondering if and how Tyndale's translations might have influenced Shakespeare, before the formation of the KJV. provocative and instructive as ever, cheers
The Shadow of a Great Rock by Harold Bloom is probably a good starting place.
great, thank you
I have a question : how should we rate, for example, Jane Austen ?
I rate her v highly! She is exemplary but I don’t know how inventive her style is (obviously technically highly inventive). Would like to read about that some more…
Anne Toner’s “Jane Austen’s Style” is very good and helpful.
Thanks!
Ok let us see how about Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter ?
I always felt that in his prescriptions on writing Orwell made a virtue of his own limitations: don't do this because I can't. When I read Pater (a few pages) it seemed like some sort of sick joke that he was lauded so highly. I adore Tuchman, whose name I was pleased to see in these very pages. So too Will Durant, Fitzgerald and Edith Wharton.
I love Pater! Which pages did you read? I have a Wharton here I want to read
I can't remember honestly - it was a few years ago but it struck me as purple. He was talking about nymphs and what not and I think I just can't really process that! As for Wharton, I've only read three of her novels but the style... The House of Mirth trumps The Age of Innocence for me. There's a line in The Custom of the Country (I think) about an American expat in Paris in reference to whom she says something like "...on whose tongue every verb was irregular." I love it.
lol that's great
what about it?
It is fairly in advance to Madame Bovary and Oscar Wilde.
you think aestheticism owes something to him?
I do.