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.
To write English well the author says, it is helpful to
A. be able to write French fairly well B. be able to read French fairly well C. know French thoroughly D. be able to read English well E. do all of the above
