The Elements of Eloquence cover art

The Elements of Eloquence

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Elements of Eloquence

By: Mark Forsyth
Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

In an age unhealthily obsessed with substance, this is a book on the importance of pure style, from the best-selling author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon. From classic poetry to pop lyrics and from the King James Bible to advertising slogans, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase - such as 'Tiger, Tiger, burning bright', or 'To be or not to be' - memorable.

In his inimitably entertaining and witty style he takes apart famous lines and shows how you, too, can write like Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde. Whether you're aiming for literary immortality or just an unforgettable one-liner, The Elements of Eloquence proves that you don't need to have anything to say - you simply need to say it well.

©2013 Mark Forsyth (P)2014 Audible Studios
Art Words, Language & Grammar Witty Funny Feel-Good Thought-Provoking Inspiring Tiger
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

A Guide to the Good Life cover art
A Classical Education cover art
Understanding Power cover art
Quirkology cover art
Becoming Bulletproof cover art
Animal Societies cover art
Where We Are cover art
Asian Journals cover art
Tribe of Mentors cover art
Hitler, Mussolini, and Me cover art
The History of the Ancient World cover art
Goethe: A BBC Radio Drama Collection cover art
If I Could Tell You Just One Thing cover art
Cognitive Psychology for Dummies cover art
The Adventure of English cover art
In the House of Tom Bombadil cover art

Critic reviews

“Sparkling ... the book offers many pleasures ... I laughed out loud at the examples chosen” (Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph)
“An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully.” (David Marsh, Guardian)
“It is good news that the popular author of The Etymologicon should now potter round the rhetorical warehouse at our elbow, commenting on the choicer goods on view, for he is well-informed and amusing.” (Christopher Howse, The Spectator)
“The Elements of Eloquence makes a daunting, potentially boring subject exciting ... Forsyth's wickedly clever, irreverent take on rhetoric should cement his reputation as a virtuoso: it is hard to think of any other book that tackles the topic with such style.” ( South China Morning Post)

What listeners say about The Elements of Eloquence

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    918
  • 4 Stars
    213
  • 3 Stars
    51
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    939
  • 4 Stars
    108
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    767
  • 4 Stars
    209
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding insight into English language

What did you like most about The Elements of Eloquence?

It opened my eyes to the linguistic foundations that make or break language. I thoroughly enjoyed it and book provided me with a new understanding of language and what the difference is between various way of expression.

Any additional comments?

Great educational story and excellent narration by Simon Shepherd who made a topic that could easily become boring very interesting until the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely fantastic

Mark Forsyth's talent for writing and Simon Shepherd's ability to narrate makes this book a work of art.
Truly insightful and VERY informative, this book is a must read for everyone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful

interesting and funny suprising at times the narration is perfect for the subject matter well worth purchasing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great book.

Another great book by Mr Forsyth. And brilliantly read by Mr Shepard. Loved it. From a happy logophile.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Crisply presented, full of excellent advice

I would recommend this to anyone interested in improving their writing, or in just understanding the techniques they are exposed to nearly every day. It is compact, elegant and fascinating.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I liked this book, great material and the performance that matched the material, not always the case.
I learned a lot that I was deprived of at school, but for those of us without a photographic memory.
I would have liked a PDF to go with it, for further review and to digest all the material.
It might just be me but I like lots of paperwork when trying to digest new material.
David P

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic, fabulous, funny and fluent!

Best thing I've listened to on audible thus far! Highly recommended, entertaining and eloquent: you'll drive your friends nutty, your partner barmy and your colleagues up the wall!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and funny

Well read interesting and funny like all of this series. I was sad when the book ended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

English Language ...Bloody marvellous !

A delightful dissection of what we have heard ,hear and say . More of the same please !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent!

An absolute delight! Superbly written and expertly narrated. A great reference too. Transforms a very dull subject into an informative and entertaining adventure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!