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The Elements of Eloquence
- Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
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Publisher's summary
From classic poetry to pop lyrics, from Charles Dickens to Dolly Parton, even 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 like Oscar Wilde. Whether you’re aiming to achieve literary immortality or just 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.
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Good Collection
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By: Oscar Wilde
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Fury
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surprisingly good
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Born to Kvetch
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As the main spoken language of the Jews for more than a thousand years, Yiddish has had plenty to lament, plenty to conceal. Its phrases and expressions paint a comprehensive picture of the mind-set that enabled the Jews of Europe to survive persecution: they never stopped kvetching about God, gentiles, children, and everything else.
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Fascinating, but...
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The Ground Beneath Her Feet
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Okay, Salmon, We get that you're a genious already
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Hugely entertaining and informative.
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Not so bad
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Not what I Expected
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A Woman of No Importance
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Devilishly attractive Lord Illingworth is notorious for his skill as a seducer. But he is still invited to all the "best" houses, while his female conquests must hide their shame in seclusion. In this devastating drawing-room comedy, Oscar Wilde uses his celebrated wit to expose English society's narrow view of everything from sexual mores to Americans.
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Pitch Perfect Performance
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This classic novel by the brilliant G. K. Chesterton tells the rollicking tale of Innocent Smith, a man who may be crazy - or possibly the most sane man of all. Arriving at a dreary London boarding house accompanied by a windstorm, Smith is an exuberant, eccentric, and sweet-natured man. Smith has a positive effect on the house - he creates his own court, brings a few couples together, and falls in love with a paid companion next door. All seems to be well with the world.
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Mixed feelings on reading performance
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On Elizabeth Bishop
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In this book novelist Colm Tóibín offers a deeply personal introduction to the work and life of one of his most important literary influences - the American poet Elizabeth Bishop. Ranging across her poetry, prose, letters, and biography, Tóibín creates a vivid picture of Bishop while also revealing how her work has helped shape his sensibility as a novelist and how her experiences of loss and exile resonate with his own.
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ELIZABETH BISHOP
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What listeners say about The Elements of Eloquence
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dennis Jones
- 09-03-15
Witty, but
Would you consider the audio edition of The Elements of Eloquence to be better than the print version?
A paperback is probably the proper method to memorize this mesmerizing manual for manufacturing memorable mannerisms.
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14 people found this helpful
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- Miamigrrl
- 05-26-15
Delightful!
If you could sum up The Elements of Eloquence in three words, what would they be?
crack for wordgeeks
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Elements of Eloquence?
there were so many: quotes from famous poems and lyrics from rock songs
Have you listened to any of Don Hagen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
not sure if I have but he did a great job on this one
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me laugh out loud several times
Any additional comments?
I got lucky with this book - it could have been very dry, based on the title. But it was wonderful - educational and very funny at the same time. I will probably listen to it again, something I rarely do with a book. I may even buy the written version so I can take notes (I listen while driving).
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4 people found this helpful
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- Lonnie
- 05-20-15
Brilliant, Breathtaking, and Bombastic
If the title of my review caught your eye you have Mark Forsyth to thank. The book was such a great read... In addition to being very well written, funny, and spending just enough time in each section, The Elements of Eloquence provided so many "a ha moments" about why certain phrases seem to stick and others dont.
If you are interested in language at all I cant recommend this book enough.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- 922Vision
- 08-31-17
painful, but so good
it stretches your brain poking it into your skull this book. terms new terms lots of terms lots of technical terms you get the idea. you will definitely be better after reading this book. Maybe more confused than ever but better because you will know how things are constructed. And what can be more wonderful than not only being eloquent but knowing why you are being so. Enjoy the read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- MW
- 09-15-16
Very entertaining but not for the kiddos
Really enjoyed it, however I was caught off guard when the author would quote someone dropping an F bomb a few times. No big deal, just glad my 2 year old wasn't listening at the time, not ready for him to add that to his vocabulary just yet.
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- Honest John
- 04-19-18
Interesting & What Fun !!
Would you consider the audio edition of The Elements of Eloquence to be better than the print version?
Can't answer this - I have not seen the print version.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved the word play!! The book explains techniques of good writing and speaking in a very clever and interesting way.
Which character – as performed by Don Hagen – was your favorite?
Not a relevant question. This book has no characters -- but you do get a nice feeling about the author's sense of fun and playfulness.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I savored it a chapter at time; and I have gone back and listened to it many times now.
Any additional comments?
Who would have thought that learning grammar could be so fun.
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- Mike
- 02-10-16
Fantastically witty!
loved this book and will listen to it over and over. blah blah blah blah blah blah this book I loved.
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- RML85
- 08-01-22
Ignore the nay sayers
If you read the negative reviews on Amazon, you’re bound to have a good laugh at their ridiculous attempt at sophistry. People are so pretentious, especially many who fancy themselves “writers.” There is a stick that needs removing. Just enjoy the book.
If you’re really concerned with their comments, listen to the epilogue first where Forsyth essentially dispenses with pretense and gives an honest review of the tangle that is our English understanding of such definitions.
As for the book itself, I love Forsyth and his narrator. Forsyth is witty and very enjoyable to listen to. See his book Etymologicon. I love grammar and writing, so I gave this book a go in an attempt to extend my understanding on devices, and I’m happy I did.
This is NOT an education on devices nor is it a book written to help you improve your writing. Merely, it is a fascinating stroll down history lane on how the device has been used (even recently) and what it is. It is entertainment… informative entertainment.
If you’re not a prat, give it a go. You’ll enjoy it. If you are, follow Forsyth’s recommendation in the epilogue.
Cheers!!
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- Jahaziel Magana
- 01-09-24
easy to follow
lots of information, but geniously arranged to make it more interesting, and easy to mentally digest.
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- Kent S. Larsen
- 07-04-15
Pretty good
I expected more advise on how to use and combine these figures in the context of a text.
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3 people found this helpful