Writing & Linguistics
The Awful German Language
This long essay is a work of mock philology, one of several appendices to Twain’s travel novel, A Tramp Abroad. In it, Twain explains, compl…
Mark Twain's Speeches
This collection of the 195 known, publicly-printed speeches of Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was compiled by Paul Fatout and publish…
Cratylus
Cratylus is a philosophical dialogue by Plato that delves into the nature of language and its relationship to reality. Through a conversatio…
How to Write a Novel
I address myself to the man or woman of talent—those people who have writing ability, but who need instruction in the manipulation of charac…
English as She is Spoke
English as She is Spoke is a 19th century Portuguese-to-English phrasebook that has become a classic of absurdist humor, owing chiefly to th…
Write it Right
Witty, opinionated alphabetical examples of what Bierce considered poor (American) English and advice on alternatives - entertaining, though…
A Compendious History of English Literature and of the English Language
The History of English Literature and Language may be recommended to the student as a guide always sure, and as satisfactory as its limits w…
The Secret Doctrine
A vast, sweeping survey on the origin of creation, its expansion, contraction, maintenance and instructions for humanity in the contexts of …
The American Language
"It was part of my daily work, for a good many years, to read the principal English newspapers and reviews; it has been part of my work…
The Ordeal of Mark Twain
The Ordeal of Mark Twain analyzes the literary progression of Samuel L. Clemens and attributes shortcomings to Clemens' mother and wife. The…
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
This is the fourth book of John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding. His book deals with knowledge and probability. He asks how far…
The Enemies of Books
The author, an avid book collector, calls for the better protection of books against the "enemies" which lead to their physical de…
The Raven
Poe’s famous narrative poem and the author’s reflections on its composition. (David Wales)
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
This is the third book of John Locke's Essay on Human Understanding. Book I was Neither Principles Nor Ideas Are Innate. Book II was Of Idea…
The Writing of Fiction
Edith Wharton, a successful author of fiction herself, gives us some in-depth analysis of the writing of short stories and novels. Then she …
Stories That Words Tell Us
A history of English words, written for younger readers.Parental advisory: the text was published in 1918 and includes some ethnicity terms …
The Technique of the Mystery Story
For one, I have never been one of those who apologize for my frank and never-ending delight in mystery stories. Their mazes have led me unwe…
The Columbian Orator
The Columbian Orator, a collection of political essays, poems, and dialogues first published in 1797, was widely used in American schoolroom…
In the Path of the Alphabet
Language: we all use it and few of us think about the form it takes on the page. But how did the transmittal of ideas in written form evolve…
The Cambridge History of English Literature
In the preliminary statement of the aims and objects of this History, communicated to those who were invited to become contributors to it, t…