Some Helpful Books for Writers
Discover essential books for writers, from Kitty Burns Florey's Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog to Simon Winchester's The Professor and the Madman. This curated list offers invaluable insights into language, grammar, and the craft of writing—perfect for authors seeking inspiration and literary guidance.
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Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog
by Kitty Burns Florey
A veteran copyeditor studies the practice of diagramming sentences in a charming and funny look back at its odd history, its elegant method, and its rich, ongoing possibilities.
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The Professor and the Madman
by Simon Winchester
The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED began in 1857, it was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane. This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
