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In this entertaining and enlightening collection David Lodge considers the art of fiction under a wide range of headings, drawing on writers as diverse as Henry James, Martin Amis, Jane Austen and James Joyce. Looking at ideas such as the Intrusive Author, Suspense, the Epistolary Novel, Magic Realism and Symbolism, and illustrating each topic with a passage taken from a classic or modern novel, David Lodge makes the richness and variety of British and American fiction accessible to the general reader.

He provides essential reading for students, aspiring writers and anyone who wants to understand how fiction works.

Review

Exciting...a book for starting up trains of thought or discussion... It did make me think, as a writer, as a reader, as a teacher -- AS Byatt ― Sunday Times

Here is scholarship made human... There has been no better populist study of fiction since Forster's Aspects of the Novel ― Financial Times

It is wonderful to be clued in to some of the magic tricks of the trade; the point of view, the stream of consciousness, the use of names, the sense of place, time-shift and intertextuality ― Los Angeles Times

Lodge has the knack of wearing his scholarship lightly... One finds here precisely that expansive, humane wisdom which is so sorely lacking in much narrow-minded modern criticism.... He gets to the bottom of things, telling us why we read fiction....admirers will find in The Art of Fiction concentrated essence of Lodge ― Guardian

These essays are as fresh and as readable as ever -- David Evans ― Independent

About the Author

David Lodge (CBE)’s novels include Changing Places, Small World and Nice Work (shortlisted for the Booker) and, most recently, A Man of Parts. He has also written plays and screenplays, and several books of literary criticism. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages.

He is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Birmingham, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Review:

4.7 out of 5

94.55% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars PLEASE NOTE: Issues with the - May 23 Kindle.Version…

R. · 20 May 2023

***UPDATE: Sun 25 Jun 23 - STILL NO UPDATE! TO INCORRECTLY DIGITISED KINDLE BOOK _ VERY POOR***OVER A MONTH ago, I contacted the Kindle Team and let them know about the issues with this latest version of the Kindle Book (Black Cover, with Penguin). Click on the sample and you’ll see what I mean.This is seriously NOT GOOD ENOUGH - Bolo! A whole month on to update a brand new edition ebook that is UNREADABLE!Good gosh - please get a move on - I want to read the book I bought, and for all the hype you scatter around about ‘listening to feedback’, please, do and update the book!Good day!.. the pages in the latest Kindle version have been scanned incorrectly.I’ve made the Kindle Team aware and they have the little digital AI entities working on it as we speak (apparently; these little AI Bots run up and down some cables, and then, transmit their thoughts telepathically Over The Air to fix it!). I’m sure Team Kindle will have it fixed in no time.The book, well, if you are buying this, you already know what your getting and it’s great value and well put advice. There are a couple of occasions where you need to use your imagination, but that’s on you, not the author.Otherwise, go for it! Great examples to make you think about your own writing craft.Other books you can consider of this ilk:Anne Dillard - The Writing LifeAnne Lamott - Bird by BirdChuck Palahniuk - Consider ThisJohn McPhee - Draft No. 4Roy Peter Clark - Tell It Like It IsDonald Maass - 21c Fiction, The Breakout Novelist, The Emotional Craft of FictionUrsula K. Le Guin - Steering the Craft

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful resource for students - many excellent and well-chosen illustrative texts

D.W.H.K. · 26 June 2015

David Lodge covers 50 writing topics in 50 chapters. Each chapter can be read by itself without reference to the other chapters, which I found made it readable and digestible. One of this book's best features is the wide range of writing that goes back to Laurence Sterne and Henry Fielding who both wrote in the Eighteenth Century to more modern writers including himself. I thoroughly enjoyed his selection which covered a vast range of styles and topics. I also found most of his comments interesting and helpful.The main message seemed to be that the only absolute rule about good creative writing is that there are no rules. And if there are any rules, it's acceptable for established writers to break them. For example, very long sentences and multiple repetitions are discouraged in young writers, but fine for people who know what they're doing.Occasionally I disagreed with his conclusions, Once or twice he appeared to read more into the text that the author might have intended - particularly with regard to the extract from Ernest Hemingway (he might of course be right but he came across as being slightly too adulatory to the great man).Apart from that minor criticism, I really liked The Art of Fiction (which was recommended to me by my Open University tutor). It gave plenty of new literary insights and explained some literary devices with which I was not previously familiar. On the whole, this book is a useful resource for students of English Literature and Creative Writing.

5.0 out of 5 stars A quick read for plenty of knowledge

n. · 30 April 2009

I borrowed this from school, which was using it as part of a course (I'm not sure what course).I took me 5 days to read the whole thing, because I had little time on my hands, but I could have read the entire thing in a day - it's so entertaining and you can't put it down, which is rare (for me at least) in a non-fiction book.With excellent examples starting each short chapter (around 5 pages at MOST in each chapter), one is introduced to new texts and techniques.I personally found it most helpful for recognising techniques and having a wide range of literary knowledge stashed away for my upcoming English Advanced Extension Award exam.If you're studying for an exam with an "unseen" portion or for the AEA, I highly recommend it. You can dip in and out or read the whole thing.Another excellent book by David Lodge.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Literary Little Gem

G. · 30 January 2018

The Art of Fiction by David Lodge is a great little book covering 50 literary devices, such as Suspense, Point of View, Stream of Consciousness, Time-Shift, Repetition and Magic Realist. It is a very good learning resource for students and the general reader alike, as it informs them how writers use their craft to create the works they do. Lodge is very knowledgeable: he writes clearly and well—and never obscures the reader with complexities. Everything is understandable in this book. It is a little gem. Five stars. I hope you find my review helpful.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Fiction

D. · 16 October 2012

David Lodge writes in a low key amusing style which makes these essays on fiction entertaining reading. The book contains fifty essays which examine all aspects of fiction including magic realism, point of view, chapters, surrealism, irony and the weather. His thoughts are illustrated with quotations from all types of fiction from the eighteenth to the twenty first century. He also shows how he has used various techniques in his own novels.Reading this book helps the reader to understand how authors achieve their effects and increases future enjoyment when reading novels. Some of the novels quoted may be new to many readers and will provide new avenues to explore. If you thought literary criticism and analysis would make for dull reading then give this book a try - it could change your mind.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best on the subject

A.M. · 5 September 2012

Had to buy it for a class. Lightweight in advice, hardly anything explained. Lots of personal opinion. Also bought How Novels Works by John Mullan. Excellent book that finally explained in plain English.

Gran libro y llegó muy a tiempo

G.O. · 8 July 2022

Hace mucho quería este libro. Llego muy bien y a tiempo

A must read

c. · 6 April 2024

This book is for anyone who wants to either improve their writing or enjoy reading even more.

Worth reading it.

S. · 31 July 2021

Nice book

La opinión de un filólogo inglés moderno

F.G.R. · 30 June 2020

Una visión del arte de hacer una novela. Se basa en ejemplos para apreciarlo hay que conocer la literatura inglesa

Perfect

う. · 12 February 2021

Perfect! Fast shipping, the book is beautiful.

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The Art of Fiction

Name: The Art of Fiction
Brand: Vintage
SKU: K0099554240
Price: 9.45 BHD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (11 reviews)

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