For example, he penned this enlightening letter about the peacock's tail: In addition to being a skilled writer, White was an astute observer, often writing about details that most people rarely bother to see (even today). The language of birds is very ancient, and, like other ancient modes of speech, very elliptical little is said, but much is meant and understood. Sprinkled throughout the letters are deliciously evocative nuggets and observations, such as this, which is one of my particular favourites: The writing itself and the thoughtfulness that it stimulates has inspired admiration in uncounted numbers of readers throughout the centuries. Thanks to the knowledge of editor Anne Secord, an Affiliated Research Scholar at the University of Cambridge, we learn a little about the relationship between the author and his correspondents, the times in which he lived, and the historic use of the epistolary form in literature.īut you don't have to be a scholar to appreciate this book. Along this same vein, this edition of White's classic includes additional context.
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