The Elements of Style by STRUNK, Jr., William (1869-1946) - 1920

New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1920. First Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine+. Scarce, beautifully preserved First Trade Edition (after the 1919 private printing) of this revered guidebook of essential rules of the English language. Small, slim 8vo: 52pp. Publisher's original slate-blue paper-covered boards titled in black, black linen spine. Binding strong, lower hinge just starting, slight stain to upper left corner of front board, pages very lightly toned but generally clean with mild foxing restricted to end sheets. An exemplarily example. Time 100 (Nonfiction), 83. Strunk wrote The Elements of Style in 1918 and privately published it, in 1919, for in-house use at Cornell University, where he was professor of English. Harcourt, Brace published this first trade edition one year later. "Strunk and White [E. B. White, one of Strunk's first students and greatest admirers, who, in 1957, updated and revised the "Little Book," adding an introduction and a chapter on style] waded through the totality of our vast and complicated language and boiled it down to a terse 105 pages, including a glossary and index. No exhaustive explanations or sentence diagrams here-just 22 style rules and principles of composition, followed by 'a few matters of form,' a conclusive list of misused words and phrases and an all-encompassing 'guide to style.' . . . The Elements of Style is a timeless reminder of the simplicity of proper writing and is likely to remain a useful tool for years to come." (Time 100) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).