The Elements of Style

Strunk, Jr., William; E. B. White [Revisions and Introduction]

Published by The Macmillan Company, New York, 1959

About this Item

Third printing thus. Signed by E.B. White on the front free endpaper and inscribed in chicken scratch to Louisa Kennedy (1934-2007), "For Louisa - whose writing and clarifications will one day, [illegible] and, no doubt, enlarge on what Will Strunk and I have advocated in this 'little book.' Affectionately, E. B. White Aug. '59." xiv, [ii], 71 pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt. Very Good with rubbing to edges, small dings to bottom edge of upper board, light soiling to cloth and Kennedy's name and info written at front free endpaper. A few instances of her underlining and marginal notations throughout with pen marking to rear endpaper; contents lightly toned. In a Good unclipped dust jacket with chip to crown, moderate rubbing at extremities and tanning to covers. Price written at front flap in pencil, dampstaining to base of spine panel at verso. The classic writing style bible colloquially known as Strunk & White, signed by White. It was named by Time as one of the most influential nonfiction books of the 20th century. Initially written by Cornell University professor William Strunk in 1918 and privately published in 1919, the work advocated for clean and concise writing. In 1957 the style guide reached the attention of E.B. White at The New Yorker. White had studied writing at Cornell under Strunk in 1919 but had since forgotten "the little book" that he described as a "forty-three-page summation of the case for cleanliness, accuracy, and brevity in the use of English." Weeks later, White wrote about Strunk's devotion to lucid English prose in his column. White greatly enlarged and revised the book for publication by Macmillan in 1959. Inscribed to Louisa Kennedy, a former spokesperson for Iran hostage crisis victims alongside her husband and foreign service officer Moorhead C. Kennedy, Jr. (1930-2024) Anderson 6 pp.

Seller Inventory # 140947850

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Elements of Style
• Publisher: The Macmillan Company, New York
• Publication Date: 1959
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Education
  • Reference
  • Signed