I’m celebrating spring (which has arrived ahead of schedule, with balmy temperatures and birds chirping) by taking another literature class at Harvard with my favorite book critic. (The identity of class and critic will remain hidden for now.)
I recently cracked a very famous novel and was confounded by this first sentence, which seems to break every rule in my book—and in every other book on writing:
“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
I ask you, why did the writer launch his novel this way? Please submit your answers in the Comments, below. In fact, let’s make it a contest! The first person to 1) correctly name the writer and the work of literature from which this passage comes, and 2) explain how and why the passage contradicts the rules of good writing as they are taught today, and then 3) suggest why the author chose to write in such a style, will receive a free, signed copy of Sin and Syntax.
Bonne chance!
Related posts:
Posted in Blog | 5 Comments »
Tags:Good writing, literary style, rule of writing, style and substance
March 29th, 2010 at 8:09 am
That is the first line of “Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it exactly. I’m currently re-reading, “The Sun Also Rises” and maybe Strunk and White would roll their eyes because James’ first line is so unHemingwayesque. In fact it’s cumbersome, old-fashioned, even a little pompous. But it’s long and leisurely like the scene on the lawn that is about to unfold. I don’t know, just a guess.
March 29th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Touche, Sarah. That’s a great answer. If anyone else want to take a stab, I offer another book for additional thoughts about why such an ungainly sentence works in this context.
March 29th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
One thing I noticed was James’s use of prepositions; according to the current rules of good writing, it’s really quite appalling! I think he gets away with it, though, for not only the reason Sarah mentioned, but also because overall effect subtly mimics the stream-of-consciousness, or at least some budding psychological “flow.” James, in this opening sentence, draws readers to view the scene through his created narrator’s mind.
March 5th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
1. As previously answered: Henry James, The Sun Also Rises.
2. Pithy, it is not.
3. Sip each word in a sentence as you would tea in a cup.
Thanks,
P.S. I already bought you book from Amazon; should arrive soon.
March 7th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Tom, I love the advice of treating a Henry James sentence like a cup of tea, especially given the subject of the sentence.
Enjoy Sin and Syntax and let me know what you think.