Track My Order
Help Centre
1300 187 187
Likes
My Wish ListsLogin / Join
Booktopia
Australia's local bookstore
The Words of Others : From Quotations to Culture - Gary Saul Morson

The Words of Others

From Quotations to Culture

By: Gary Saul Morson

Hardcover | 28 June 2011 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover

RRP $118.95

$74.80

37%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $18.70 with

 or 

Aims to ship in 7 to 10 business days

In this lively gambol through the history of quotations and quotation books, Gary Saul Morson traces our enduring fascination with the words of others. Ranging from the remote past to the present, he explores the formation, development, and significance of quotations, while exploring the "verbal museums" in which they have been collected and displayed--commonplace books, treasuries, and anthologies. In his trademark clear, witty, and provocative style, Morson invites readers to share his delight in the shortest literary genre.

The author defines what makes a quote quotable, as well as the (unexpected) differences between quotation and misquotation. He describes how quotations form, transform, and may eventually become idioms. How much of language itself is the residue of former quotations? Weaving in hundreds of intriguing quotations, common and unusual, Morson explores how the words of others constitute essential elements in the formation of a culture and of the self within that culture. In so doing, he provides a demonstration of that very process, captured in the pages of this extraordinary new book.

Industry Reviews

"The Words of Others is an original and illuminating investigation of how literature and culture use quotations. Gary Saul Morson writes with lucidity and lively wit, making cogent distinctions among different kinds of quotations and arguing persuasively for the quotation as a miniature literary genre. This is one of those rare literary studies that both delights and instructs."-Robert Alter, author of The Art of Biblical Narrative

-- Robert Alter

"Morson loves literature for the way that, at its best, it can elevate and educate our consciousness. His study of metaquotation supplies an exemplary overview of the whole phenomenon."-Frederick Crews, author of Follies of the Wise: Dissenting Essays

-- Frederick Crews

"The Words of Others is a tour de force. Morson inspired me to view the subject of quotations in an entirely fresh light."--Fred Shapiro, editor of The Yale Book of Quotations

-- Fred Shapiro

"No one to my knowledge has thought so thoroughly and interestingly about quotations as has Gary Saul Morson. This cannot be demonstrated because 'Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced-even a proverb is no proverb to you till your life has illustrated it.' Take Keats at his word and let the words of Gary Morson illustrate for you the soundness of my opinion."-Arthur Krystal, author of Except When I Write: Reflections of a Recovering Critic

-- Arthur Krystal
"[a] thought-provoking work . . . this volume belongs in every library."-E.L. Battistella, Choice -- E.L. Battistella * Choice *
"The Words of Others proves to be a very interesting and useful volume to folklorists and other researchers exploring speech, identity, authorship, and authority. . . . This is a book that will be useful in broadening and deepening theoretical arguments, and the abstract discussion of quotation that Morson presents will fit easily into many different conversations."-Michael A. Lange, Journal of Folklore Research -- Michael A. Lange * Journal of Folklore Research *

You Can Find This Book In

Non-FictionReference, Information & Interdisciplinary SubjectsEncyclopaedias & Reference WorksReference WorksDictionaries of QuotationsLanguage & LinguisticsReference, Dictionaries & GuidesLiterature, Poetry & PlaysHistory & Criticism of LiteratureGeneral Literary StudiesEducation

More in Education

Storm Boy : 50th Anniversary Edition - Colin Thiele

Storm Boy

50th Anniversary Edition

Paperback

$16.99

Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education : 4th Edition - Janet Fellowes

Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education

4th Edition

Paperback

RRP $104.95

$82.90

21%
OFF
The Study Skills Handbook : 6th Edition - Stella Cottrell

The Study Skills Handbook

6th Edition

Paperback

$34.99

Running the Room : The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour - Tom Bennett

Running the Room

The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour

Paperback

RRP $35.99

$32.50

10%
OFF
Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia - Anita Heiss

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia

Paperback

RRP $32.99

$30.25

The Beginner's Bible : Timeless Children's Stories - Zondervan

The Beginner's Bible

Timeless Children's Stories

Hardcover

RRP $27.99

$26.50

Boy Overboard - Morris Gleitzman

Boy Overboard

Paperback

$16.99

Tom Appleby Convict Boy - Jackie French

Tom Appleby Convict Boy

Paperback

$17.99

Rosenshine's Principles in Action - Tom Sherrington

Rosenshine's Principles in Action

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$22.90

Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia : 2nd Edition - Bill Arthur

Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia

2nd Edition

Hardcover

RRP $79.99

$54.75

32%
OFF
The Rainbow Fish : Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister

FRENZY

The Rainbow Fish

Rainbow Fish

Paperback

$16.99

This product is categorised by