Best Seller

The Art of Fiction

Name: The Art of Fiction
Price: 17.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: John Gardner
ISBN: 9780679734031

Paperback $17.00

Published on Jun 04, 1991 | 240 Pages

Buy from Other Retailers:

$17.00

Published on Jun 04, 1991 | 240 Pages

Buy from Other Retailers:

This classic guide, from the renowned novelist and professor, has helped transform generations of aspiring writers into masterful writers—and will continue to do so for many years to come.

John Gardner was almost as famous as a teacher of creative writing as he was for his own works. In this practical, instructive handbook, based on the courses and seminars that he gave, he explains, simply and cogently, the principles and techniques of good writing. Gardner’s lessons, exemplified with detailed excerpts from classic works of literature, sweep across a complete range of topics—from the nature of aesthetics to the shape of a refined sentence. Written with passion, precision, and a deep respect for the art of writing, Gardner’s book serves by turns as a critic, mentor, and friend. Anyone who has ever thought of taking the step from reader to writer should begin here.

“It will fascinate anyone interested in how fiction gets put together. For the young writer it will become a necessary handbook, a stern judge, an encouraging friend… In the first half of the book, Gardner investigated just what fiction is. In the second half, he treats specific technical matters. The Art of Fiction is filled with lecture counsel, wise encouragement.” -John L’Heureux, The New York Times Book Review

“A densely packed book of advice to all writers, not just young ones… It is serious, provocative, and funny, and I recommend it to anyone who cares about literature.”- Margaret Manning, The Boston Globe

“He lays out virtually everything a person might want to know [about] how to say it, with good and bad examples and judgments falling like autumn leaves in a November storm.” -William McPherson, The Washington Post

“The next best thing to graduate workshop in fiction writing. Drawing on examples from Homer to Kafka to Joyce Carol Oates, Gardner unravels the mysteries of plot, sentence structure, diction, and point of view.” – Book-of-the-Month Club News

Author

John Gardner

John Gardner received wide acclaim for his novels, his collections of short stories, and his critical works. He was born in Batavia, New York, in 1933, and taught English, Anglo-Saxon, and creative writing at Oberlin College, Chico State College, San Francisco State University, Southern Illinois University, Bennington College, and SUNY–Binghamton. His books include The Art of Fiction, The Art of Living, Grendel, Jason and Medeia, The Life and Times of Chaucer, Mickelsson’s Ghosts, Nickel Mountain, October Light, The Resurrection, The Sunlight Dialogues, Stillness and Shadows, and various books for children. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1982.

Learn More

The Art of Fiction

Related Genres

You May Also Like

Adult on Board

My First Movie

The Gardener’s Year

The Family Tree Historical Atlas of American Cities

The Last Men on Top

The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children

Maeve in America

The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing

Coming to My Senses

The Way of a Pilgrim

Success!

By John Gardner