This book consists of lectures given by me at Cambridge. Although they have been largely rewritten. I have kept a good deal of their original lecture-form as being (I hope) rather less formal and less dogmatic. For to dogmatism, those written on language seem.
For some reason, particularly prone; and I should like to make it clear at once that. If at-times I have put my own views strongly. I do not forget that such matters of taste must remain mere matters of opinion.
In addition, I have included a good specimen passages from various authors. Perhaps I have quoted too much. But a book on style without abundant examples seems to me as ineffectual as a book on art, or biology without abundant illustrations. Many of these passages are in French.
That may be Gallomania on my part; and I must apologize if they trouble some readers. But some ability to read French prose does seem to me most desirable for anyone who would write well in English. I have tried to choose pieces not too difficult in syntax or vocabulary. And in these days less than ever can we afford to be insular.
In the author's opinion a book on style
A. can do with few examples B. need not have any examples C. is a book on art D. will be ineffectual with many examples E. will be ineffectual with insufficient examples
