/lit/ - Literature

>>20569770
I've been very impressed by how much insight this tiny book has given me into the nature of English prose. His premise is simple: English is mostly Saxon and Latin. While the latter are polysyllabic, lofty, and philosophical the former are almost always monosyllabic, grounded, and countryish. Good writers make use this. Citing Shakespeare, Lincoln, Churchill, and the KJV bible he shows how good balance is made of English by utilizing a mixture of Latinate and Saxon words. I highly recommend. One thing he talks about for example is what he calls the Saxon finish, putting Latinate words in the beginning of the sentence which are then juxtaposed by Saxon words at its end.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

He argues this works so well because the Saxon words ground the lofty ideas established by the Latinate.