Style (Harriman Classics): The art of writing well Paperback – August 18, 2020

The single most charming, sensible and erudite book ever written on English prose style. And full of delectable quotation. A few insights from Lucas:1. The beginning of style is character.2. Brevity is first of all a form of courtesy.3. A good writer is one who also knows what not to write.4. ordinary prose, I think, is happiest when it is clear as the air of a spring day in Attica

...as he always does. I am a big fan of books on writing English prose, and this is the best, at least the most enjoyable to read, that I have encountered. So far I have purchased one for myself, given one as a gift and required a friend to purchase another. I'm not done yet. Perhaps I should ask for a commission?

Why have I never heard of this book before?Stylish, informed, informative and a fascinating guide to recognising and writing good prose.The man himself, Frank Laurence Lucas (1894–1967), apart from looking like everyone's idea of Sherlock Holmes, was a WWI veteran, an accomplished writer, a leading light of the code breakers at Bletchley in WWII and a vocal opponent of appeasement with Nazi Germany.This book is a rare treasure and deserves to be an oft-referenced classic.

"Style," says Lucas, "is personality clothed in words." This is a rumination on character, voice and virtue, refracted through encyclopedic reading. It is unlike any other book on writing in print - or out.

read this. a classic.

Kindle has a lot to learn. This is the foourth "style" e book I was ready to purchase to to no avail. Kindle is good when it works!

Seems somewhat stuffy and has more Latin than I would have wished for--although, in truth, I would have wished for none--but it does quote a wonderful gruff letter written by Samuel Johnson to someone whose patronage he had requested. There are lovely books out there like "English Prose Style" by Herbert Read or the delightful "Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style" by Virginia Tufte. I heartily recommend both of those books.

This book may seem old-fashioned to some people, especially youngsters. But if you're a fan of writing guides as I am, Lucas's tome is a gift that keeps giving.