The Elements of Eloquence

October 1, 2014

Forsyth (The Etymologicon) has written a witty "dictionary" of rhetorical sayings used in contemporary English-language writing. The structure of the book is as funny as it is intelligent. For instance, in the chapter dedicated to the merism, a poetic device used when an author writes around an object of love instead of naming it directly, Forsyth ends the section with a transition sentence that includes the rhetorical device for the next chapter, the blazon, a technique whereby the author writes a merism so extreme, it requires a new definition. Forsyth shows his skills as a writer and presents technical terms for those interested in the many forms and poetic techniques as defined and discussed by the Greeks. The book contains a wide range of devices such as hendiadys, a recombining of independent words, and adynaton, a hyperbolic negative response to a question or request. Forsyth smartly references pop culture, quoting everything from the King James Bible and Shakespeare to James Bond films and the Beatles. VERDICT This enjoyable read is perfect for anyone interested in writing, literary humor, or the combination of the two.--Jesse A. Lambertson, Metamedia Management, LLC, Washington, DC

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