Style in Fiction: A Linguistic Introduction to English Fictional Prose

Describes the ways in which the techniques of linguistic analysis and literary criticism can be combined, and illuminated, through the linguistic study of literary style, and draws on the prose fiction of the last 150 years to demonstrate the approach.

‘Stylistics’ is the study of language in the service of literary ends, and in Style in Fiction, Geoffrey Leech and Mick Short demonstrate how stylistic analysis can be applied to novels and stories. Writing for both students of English language and English literature, they show the practical ways in which linguistic analysis and literary appreciation can be combined, and illuminated, through the study of literary style. Drawing mainly on major works of fiction of the last 150 years, their practical and insightful examination of style through texts and extracts leads to a deeper understanding of how prose writers achieve their effects through language.

Since its first publication in 1981, Style in Fiction has established itself as a key textbook in its field, selling nearly 30,000 copies. Now, in this revised edition, the authors have added substantial new material, including two completely new concluding chapters. These provide an extensive, up-to-date survey of developments in the field over the past 25 years, and apply the methods presented in earlier chapters to an analysis of an entire short story. The ‘Further Reading’ section and the bibliographical references have also been thoroughly updated.

In 2005 Style in Fiction was awarded the 25th Anniversary Prize by PALA (The Poetics and Linguistics Association) as the most influential book published in the field of stylistics 1980. Further proof, if proof were needed, that Style in Fiction remains a classic guide to its discipline.

Professor Geoffrey Leech is Professor Emeritus of English Linguistics at Lancaster University.  He has written, co-authored or co-edited over 25 books, including A Glossary of English Grammar (2006) and Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English (1999).' Professor Mick Short is Professor of English Language and Literature at Lancaster University.  He is the author of, among others, Exploring the Language of Poems, Plays and Prose (1996) and (with Elena Semino) Corpus Stylistics: Speech, Writing and Thought Presentation in a Corpus of English Writing (2004).