Farnsworth’s Classical English Rhetoric

By: Ward Farnsworth

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot, Jim Meskimen

Masters of language can turn unassuming words into phrases that are beautiful, effective, and memorable. What are the secrets of this alchemy? Part of the answer lies in rhetorical figures: practical ways of applying great aesthetic principles—repetition and variety, suspense and relief, concealment and surprise—to a simple sentence or paragraph.

Farnsworth’s Classical English Rhetoric recovers this knowledge for our times. It amounts to a tutorial on eloquence conducted by Churchill and Lincoln, Dickens and Melville, Burke and Paine, and more than a hundred others. The book organizes a vast range of examples from those sources into 18 chapters that illustrate and analyze the most valuable rhetorical devices with unprecedented clarity. The result is an indispensable source of pleasure and instruction for all lovers of the English language.

©2010 Ward Farnsworth (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Not only educational but delightful.” (David Mamet)

"Every writer should have this book." (Erin McKean, editor of Verbatim: The Language Quarterly and CEO of wordnik.com)

"So, dear reader, I say it even if I say it myself - get this book! No, really, get this book! Read clever Farnsworth, and read him again, and you may become more clever yourself." (Carlin Romano, The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Over the top, and information is top notch!

Narrated by Jimm Meskimen, who you may know from youtube, clearly hitting it hard and using his impression skills to give life to long deceased speakers. May turn some people off, I love it.

Will read again and again

Fabulous! The narrators are high quality and listening is like sitting with the best English speakers and authors for hours. Example after high quality example. I will be reading this again and again.

Greater appreciation for the English language

This should be taught in school, same style as this audiobook. Was a greaz’t listen.

concisely presented recitation of rhetorical devices

sometime went through the example quickly but it was a very thorough treatment of rhetorical devices. a lot of the terms are not in ordinary vernacular but the examples are often very recognizable

The best ever written on writing

This is one of the best books ever written about writing in the history of man . enjoyable, informative, transformative,