Classic Books Store
The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers
RRP: $14.00
Our Price: $11.20
You Save: $ 2.80 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Plume
Author: Ayn Rand
Publisher: Plume
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $11.20
You Save: $ 2.80 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Plume
Author: Ayn Rand
Publisher: Plume
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.3
EAN: 9780452281547
ISBN: 0452281547
Label: Plume
Manufacturer: Plume
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Publisher: Plume
Studio: Plume
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.3
EAN: 9780452281547
ISBN: 0452281547
Label: Plume
Manufacturer: Plume
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Publisher: Plume
Studio: Plume
Editorial Review of The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers
A newly published resource taken from a famous lecture course given by Ayn Rand
In 1958, Ayn Rand, already the world-famous author of such bestselling books as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, gave a private series of extemporaneous lectures in her own living room on the art of fiction. Tore Boeckmann and Leonard Peikoff for the first time now bring readers the edited transcript of these exciting personal statements. The Art of Fiction offers invaluable lessons, in which Rand analyzes the four essential elements of fiction: theme, plot, characterization, and style. She demonstrates her ideas by dissecting her best-known works, as well as those of other famous authors, such as Thomas Wolfe, Sinclair Lewis, and Victor Hugo. An historic accomplishment, this compendium will be a unique and fascinating resource for both writers and readers of fiction.
In 1958, Ayn Rand, already the world-famous author of such bestselling books as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, gave a private series of extemporaneous lectures in her own living room on the art of fiction. Tore Boeckmann and Leonard Peikoff for the first time now bring readers the edited transcript of these exciting personal statements. The Art of Fiction offers invaluable lessons, in which Rand analyzes the four essential elements of fiction: theme, plot, characterization, and style. She demonstrates her ideas by dissecting her best-known works, as well as those of other famous authors, such as Thomas Wolfe, Sinclair Lewis, and Victor Hugo. An historic accomplishment, this compendium will be a unique and fascinating resource for both writers and readers of fiction.
Customer Reviews of The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An excellent resource for the not-so-young writer.
Review: I'll admit it. I am a 'writing guide' junkie. At last count, I have probably close to fifteen or twenty different books that range from the art of drama, the art of fiction, writing theory, characterization, etc, etc. Anything that a well-established author puts down on the art of writing, I've probably read it, or own it.
I don't believe that it is the writer in me trying to escape, rather, I think, it's the critic in me that is looking for some approval when I am reading something, most likely a NYT bestseller, and I can't make it through the first fifty pages because it is utter garbage (Kite Runner, Water for Elephants, Micheal Chabon, etc). At least, after having read so many books on the theory of writing, I can actually explain why the writing is garbage and have some references standing behind me to help back up my point.
I discovered both the 'Art of Fiction' and the 'Art of Non-fiction' on the same day, in the same secondhand bookstore. Being a junkie, I had to buy them and devour them immediately.
I was not disappointed. 'The Art of Fiction' gave me exactly what I am looking for. It was the pure writing guide that I had expected. It gave clear, concrete examples of what to do and what not to do. There was no in between. It was 'this will work' and 'this will not' work (paraphrased).
I won't get into the details, or give examples from the books, as other reviewers have already done that.
What I will do, however, is tell you that if there is one thing that can be said about this Ayn Rand, it is that she is never vague. The rules are clear (even when the rule is, 'there are no rules'). When she doesn't like an author or his work, she tells you why, and then she backs it up (overkills it, actually) with solid examples of why the author's writing doesn't work. She, unlike so many authors, (and so many people) says what she means and means what she says. Even when she praises a fellow author, there are hard and fast reasons behind it.
And let me address for a moment the tremendous ego that Rand is accused of having. It's real. And it is tremendous. Now, at first, I was, admittedly, a bit taken aback and somewhat distracted by her confidence. But as I continued on through the book, it became less of a distraction, and more of a method that Rand used to help push her point along. Granted, her ego is tremendous. But rather than put the book down or admonish her, I found myself thankful that writers like her used to exist. That confidence that she has, I wish I had a even the smallest part of it. She is, in my opinion, right there in line with Hemingway and Mailer when it comes to ego and belief in one's own work. And, to overkill this point, Rand isn't some hack writer. She is the real deal.
The advice contained in this book is indeed worth its weight in gold. However, if this book is being considered by a prospective writer, I would advise them to go ahead and purchase it, but make sure to read it last. This book is in no way for the young writer or the writer just starting out on their literary journey. No. This book will make you think that writing isn't something you could ever accomplish in anything other than a hackneyed or stilted manner.
For the young writer, I highly recommend the following: 'The Art of Dramatic Writing,' by Lajos Egri, Steven King's 'On Writing,' and John Gardener's 'On Becoming a Novelist.' All are great books for anyone needing to put pen to paper.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: If you want your fiction to change lives, ask Ayn Rand
Review: Half a century after the publication of her two seminal works of fiction, Ayn Rand is still selling 100,000's each and every year. And every year more and more editions and translations are issued. Atlas Shrugged was voted the second most influential book every written (behind its antipode - the Bible). Her books change lives. They take over.
In this book, which discusses the 'how' of writing, Ayn Rand, states explicitly her methods for creating emotionally intense and lasting works. The information in this book is unique and is based on her understanding of how the mind works. This is a very practical guide for writers who are serious about writing. Clear, cogent and exciting.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Those who can - DO - Learn from them
Review: Highly recommended ... Ayn Rand became a literary legend in her own time and continues to occupy a unique stature in American fiction, despite the fact that her native language was Russian. This is her advice on the techniques she used on her ascent to the top.
Those who can - DO - those who can't - TEACH .... learn from those who cause results rather than just talk about it.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The missing chapters from "Romanitc Manifesto."
Review: "In regard to precision of language I think I myself am the best writer today." (P. 10)
OK-this is Ayn Rand, so you either love her or hate her. But you do have to admit that she is one the world's clearest thinkers. She not only knows what she believes, but she also knows how to explain it, and explain it very well. This is exceptional when you consider that English is a second language.
Moreover, her main qualification is writing the second-most influential book in America, with the Bible being number 1, "The Road Less Traveled" at 4, "Lord of the Rings" at 5, and "The Book of Mormon" at 8. That is no small feat, considering that "Atlas Shrugged" is over a thousand pages long, and beat out "Gone With The Wind," "Man's Search For Meaning," and "To Kill M Mockingbird."
She covers the four topics of theme, plot, characterization, and style, and uses her keen mind to analyze the critical elements. You get a good feel for how good a writer Rand is when you compare her streamlined prose with Thomas Wolf's raunchy vomiting.
There is nothing new, per se, in this book. She has the gift of getting to the essence of an issue. She also covers twice as much information in about half the page space. You do not get bogged down in verbal circumlocutions.
I would suggest reading this book, then reading "Philosophy: Who Needs It?" and then "The Romantic Manifesto." There are deep ideas behind her faction, and this book is a summation of her intellectual point of view. As a Mormon, I disagree with much of her philosophy. However, if someone has a good idea, I am honor bound to recognize it. "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
Rand's strength is that she is operating from a philosophic point of view. We really do not have philosophic fiction writers, outside of C. S. Lewis, Nietzsche and Sartre. This is not to say that other authors do not have ideas, but that they are not operating from a certain point of view. This is why Rand is so engaging: instead of presenting a mental muddle, she actually has a point to what she writes. Hence her precision in language.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good Advice to Be Sure...
Review: The advice Rand gives writers in this transcription of a series of living room lectures is sound in places: anchor your abstractions in the concrete; remember that art is selectivity; show, don't tell; use actions to illuminate your character, etc, etc, etc. All good advice, to be sure, but to say that Rand is proposing anything new or different from what is taught in writing seminars across the country is a little disingenuous. Add to this her refusal to praise the work of any author besides herself and Victor Hugo, her casual dismissal of prominent writers without convincing evidence (and, even more interesting, the relative paucity of authors she even brings up) and a few didactic guidelines (her ban on profanity, slang, and references less than one century old), and there's rather too much extraneous stuff here to be worth the effort of wading in to try to get to the good bits.
If it's advice you're looking for, there's an excellent essay called "Dogma" in "The Writing Life," a collection of essays and interviews with a number of authors put together by the National Book Award that I found both more helpful and less self-absorbed.
Review Summary: An excellent resource for the not-so-young writer.
Review: I'll admit it. I am a 'writing guide' junkie. At last count, I have probably close to fifteen or twenty different books that range from the art of drama, the art of fiction, writing theory, characterization, etc, etc. Anything that a well-established author puts down on the art of writing, I've probably read it, or own it.
I don't believe that it is the writer in me trying to escape, rather, I think, it's the critic in me that is looking for some approval when I am reading something, most likely a NYT bestseller, and I can't make it through the first fifty pages because it is utter garbage (Kite Runner, Water for Elephants, Micheal Chabon, etc). At least, after having read so many books on the theory of writing, I can actually explain why the writing is garbage and have some references standing behind me to help back up my point.
I discovered both the 'Art of Fiction' and the 'Art of Non-fiction' on the same day, in the same secondhand bookstore. Being a junkie, I had to buy them and devour them immediately.
I was not disappointed. 'The Art of Fiction' gave me exactly what I am looking for. It was the pure writing guide that I had expected. It gave clear, concrete examples of what to do and what not to do. There was no in between. It was 'this will work' and 'this will not' work (paraphrased).
I won't get into the details, or give examples from the books, as other reviewers have already done that.
What I will do, however, is tell you that if there is one thing that can be said about this Ayn Rand, it is that she is never vague. The rules are clear (even when the rule is, 'there are no rules'). When she doesn't like an author or his work, she tells you why, and then she backs it up (overkills it, actually) with solid examples of why the author's writing doesn't work. She, unlike so many authors, (and so many people) says what she means and means what she says. Even when she praises a fellow author, there are hard and fast reasons behind it.
And let me address for a moment the tremendous ego that Rand is accused of having. It's real. And it is tremendous. Now, at first, I was, admittedly, a bit taken aback and somewhat distracted by her confidence. But as I continued on through the book, it became less of a distraction, and more of a method that Rand used to help push her point along. Granted, her ego is tremendous. But rather than put the book down or admonish her, I found myself thankful that writers like her used to exist. That confidence that she has, I wish I had a even the smallest part of it. She is, in my opinion, right there in line with Hemingway and Mailer when it comes to ego and belief in one's own work. And, to overkill this point, Rand isn't some hack writer. She is the real deal.
The advice contained in this book is indeed worth its weight in gold. However, if this book is being considered by a prospective writer, I would advise them to go ahead and purchase it, but make sure to read it last. This book is in no way for the young writer or the writer just starting out on their literary journey. No. This book will make you think that writing isn't something you could ever accomplish in anything other than a hackneyed or stilted manner.
For the young writer, I highly recommend the following: 'The Art of Dramatic Writing,' by Lajos Egri, Steven King's 'On Writing,' and John Gardener's 'On Becoming a Novelist.' All are great books for anyone needing to put pen to paper.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: If you want your fiction to change lives, ask Ayn Rand
Review: Half a century after the publication of her two seminal works of fiction, Ayn Rand is still selling 100,000's each and every year. And every year more and more editions and translations are issued. Atlas Shrugged was voted the second most influential book every written (behind its antipode - the Bible). Her books change lives. They take over.
In this book, which discusses the 'how' of writing, Ayn Rand, states explicitly her methods for creating emotionally intense and lasting works. The information in this book is unique and is based on her understanding of how the mind works. This is a very practical guide for writers who are serious about writing. Clear, cogent and exciting.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Those who can - DO - Learn from them
Review: Highly recommended ... Ayn Rand became a literary legend in her own time and continues to occupy a unique stature in American fiction, despite the fact that her native language was Russian. This is her advice on the techniques she used on her ascent to the top.
Those who can - DO - those who can't - TEACH .... learn from those who cause results rather than just talk about it.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The missing chapters from "Romanitc Manifesto."
Review: "In regard to precision of language I think I myself am the best writer today." (P. 10)
OK-this is Ayn Rand, so you either love her or hate her. But you do have to admit that she is one the world's clearest thinkers. She not only knows what she believes, but she also knows how to explain it, and explain it very well. This is exceptional when you consider that English is a second language.
Moreover, her main qualification is writing the second-most influential book in America, with the Bible being number 1, "The Road Less Traveled" at 4, "Lord of the Rings" at 5, and "The Book of Mormon" at 8. That is no small feat, considering that "Atlas Shrugged" is over a thousand pages long, and beat out "Gone With The Wind," "Man's Search For Meaning," and "To Kill M Mockingbird."
She covers the four topics of theme, plot, characterization, and style, and uses her keen mind to analyze the critical elements. You get a good feel for how good a writer Rand is when you compare her streamlined prose with Thomas Wolf's raunchy vomiting.
There is nothing new, per se, in this book. She has the gift of getting to the essence of an issue. She also covers twice as much information in about half the page space. You do not get bogged down in verbal circumlocutions.
I would suggest reading this book, then reading "Philosophy: Who Needs It?" and then "The Romantic Manifesto." There are deep ideas behind her faction, and this book is a summation of her intellectual point of view. As a Mormon, I disagree with much of her philosophy. However, if someone has a good idea, I am honor bound to recognize it. "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
Rand's strength is that she is operating from a philosophic point of view. We really do not have philosophic fiction writers, outside of C. S. Lewis, Nietzsche and Sartre. This is not to say that other authors do not have ideas, but that they are not operating from a certain point of view. This is why Rand is so engaging: instead of presenting a mental muddle, she actually has a point to what she writes. Hence her precision in language.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good Advice to Be Sure...
Review: The advice Rand gives writers in this transcription of a series of living room lectures is sound in places: anchor your abstractions in the concrete; remember that art is selectivity; show, don't tell; use actions to illuminate your character, etc, etc, etc. All good advice, to be sure, but to say that Rand is proposing anything new or different from what is taught in writing seminars across the country is a little disingenuous. Add to this her refusal to praise the work of any author besides herself and Victor Hugo, her casual dismissal of prominent writers without convincing evidence (and, even more interesting, the relative paucity of authors she even brings up) and a few didactic guidelines (her ban on profanity, slang, and references less than one century old), and there's rather too much extraneous stuff here to be worth the effort of wading in to try to get to the good bits.
If it's advice you're looking for, there's an excellent essay called "Dogma" in "The Writing Life," a collection of essays and interviews with a number of authors put together by the National Book Award that I found both more helpful and less self-absorbed.