Seems that everyone has a story to tell about this book or the author. My most recent copy, which was bought used from a Texan, came with the reminder that his college professor had given it to him (probably with the hope that his writing would improve). He related that the prof was a good writer which he was just now beginning to appreciate.
And in Chemical Engineering News of all places appeared a review of the fourth edition published by Allyn and Bacon of Needham Heights, Massachusetts. Actually the story in C&E News is a review of a review by Andrew Ferguson which appeared in the Weekly Standard on October 4, 1999, but what the heck, it contains an interesting tale which is the reason for this essay. What follows is an extract from review.
Ferguson writes that in the late 50's, the new Webster's International Dictionary had hit the book stores with a burst of celebration. No doubt Noah would have had no truck with the book as it abandoned "artificial" notions of correctness or superiority in favor for the "descriptivist" principle, or if it feels good do it, or much later, "it depends on what the meaning of is, is". Under this cloud, the editors at MacMillan were in a state of apoplexy or as Ferguson wrote; "the vapors". MacMillan wanted the revision to conform to modern educational theory. T. H. White who had been commissioned to update the book wrote the following:
"I was saddened by your letter � the flagging spirit, the moistened finger in the wind, the examination of entrails and the fear of little men. I don't know whether MacMillan is running scared or not, but I do know that this book is the work of a dead precisionist and a half-dead disciple of his, and that it has got to stay that way. I have been sympathetic all along with your qualms abut "The Elements of Style," but I know that I cannot, and will-shall not, adjust the unadjustable Mr. Strunk to the modern liberal of the English Department, the anything-goes fellow. I'm against him, temperamentally and because I've seen the work of his disciples, and I say the hell with him... Either MacMillan takes Strunk and me in our bare skins, or I want out.
To me no cause is lost, no level the right level, no smooth ride as valuable as a rough ride, no like interchangeable with as, and no ball game anything but chaotic if it lacks a mound, a box, bases, and foul lines. That's what Strunk was about, that's what I am about, and that (I hope) is what the book is about. Any attempt to taper with his prickly design will get nobody nowhere fast."
White won and his contribution in addition to the preface is chapter five which attacks the air-headed writing style of too many of current day writers who are more concerned with filling their quotient of words rather than substance. No better example of what White and his mentor were about appears in a recent issue of Forbes. The article entitled "glade runner � Good food. Good friends. And four days to explore Florida's wilderness." The writer(?), Geoffrey Norman, was more interested in making sure the reader appreciated how much hardship it is to survive in the Everglades with an inadequate supply of corked wine (as opposed to the screw-cap variety). One wonders what they would have done if the shortage were toilet paper instead. (Perhaps the spew from his printer would have served him well.) As a parting acknowledgment to Norman's writing, it should be noted that Forbes no longer puts such useful information on the pages for a person to remember from whence the article came. Could this be recognition of the value of the works?
Barbra Peters, who writes for the Sarasota Herald Tribune had this to say about Strunk's book. Back when she was single, she had occasion to visit in the apartment of a "gentleman". On the book shelf was an old friend, The Elements of Style. She was much impressed that this person would have an interest in writing, much as she did. Things progressed and now they are old marrieds; reflecting on times past. Her husband now confesses that the book was not his, that it and the rest of the books on the shelf had been left by a previous tenant. He did, after she left that evening, stay up the night reading the book! Now holly matrimony was not a result intended by William Strunk or his later revisionist, but "good things come to those who only stand and wait". Peters' column appears in The Sarasota Herald Tribune which claims as a parent the New York Times; DNA evidence will be necessary for proof as outward appearances are deceiving. However Peters spins a good tale and almost makes subscription to the Tribune worthwhile.
Probably what is most fun, or "funner" as today's college students are wont to say, is being able to take Strunk's examples and try to improve on them. Since Ferguson's offering is said to contain corrections, it certainly justifies adding it to your collection, if only to see if you agree. Remember that White also said he was providing a thorough overhaul � to correct errors, delete bewhiskered entries, and enliven the argument.
K. M. Reese, who is the author of the "newscripts" article which appeared in C&E News, quoted White from his chapter, "An Approach to Style". White used as example two hypothetical writings from an alumni magazine. First was one which according to White, "manages in two sentences to commit most of the unpardonable sins." White cleaned up the offering and wrote of the alumni, "Clyde Crawford, who stroked the varsity shell in 1928, is swinging an oar again after a lapse of 30 years. Clyde resigned last spring as executive sales manager of the Indiana Flotex company and is now a gondolier in Venice." pp 73. Reese points out that gondoliers in Venice use poles, not oars, and nobody's perfect.
How is it that such a small book, " the little book" requires revision? It really doesn't, but fortunate for all of us who enjoy words and their use, keeping the spirit of William Strunk alive and his "vigor unimpaired" as stated by the author of Charlotte's Web is a goal well worth striving for.
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Chemical and Engineering News, November 29, 1999, pp64.
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