William Strunk and E. B. White's classic writing manual, The Elements of Style, has been enriched to include the vibrant, witty, and instantly recognizable images of Maira Kalman in a beautiful illustrated edition
Penguin
October 2005
176 pages ISBN: 1594200696 Hardcover (reprint) Add to Wish List
Every English-language writer knows Strunk and White's
famous little writing manual, The Elements of Style. Many
people between the ages of seventeen and seventy can recite
the book's mantra--make every word tell--and still refer to
their tattered grade school copy when in need of a hint on
how to make a turn of phrase clearer, or a reminder on how
to enliven prose with the active voice. Considering that
millions of copies have been sold to millions of devotees,
you might not think to ask what could enhance this (almost)
perfect classic. In fact, the addition of illustrations
allows readers to experience the book's contents in a
completely new way, making the whole learning experience
more colorful and clear, as well as adding a whimsical
element that compliments the subtly humorous tone of the
prose. The Elements of Style Illustrated will come to be
known as the definitive, must-have edition.
Maira Kalman is the offbeat and wildly talented illustrator
of twelve children's books, numerous covers for The New
Yorker magazine, fabrics for the fashion designers Isaac
Mizrahi and Kate Spade, watches and accessories for the
Museum of Modern Art, and a mural at the elegant Wavehill
estate in Riverdale, among other projects. Her
sophisticated and witty images that are yet bright and
fanciful have won her a devoted following, especially among
young urbanites. Maira Kalman is acknowledged by the E. B.
White estate as the single artist trusted to illustrate the
revered The Elements of Style.
The Elements of Style Illustrated brings a fresh immediacy
to the well-loved, much-valued, and still on-point work
that has become an institution. While giving the classic
work a jolt of new energy to appeal to contemporary
readers, Kalman's illustrations are hemselves timeless,
designed to sit alongside the ever-enduring manual for
another fifty years and more.