Move over, David McCullough. Make room for another Pulitzer Prize winner, Barbara Tuchman, to stand next to you on the pedestal of my high esteem.
Folks, I have found an Important New Author. (“New to me,” she shrugs and grins.) I’ve only read the preface, the introduction and the first paragraph, but I am twitterpated. Tuchman’s success in writing, given in the preface, is “hard work, a good ear, and continued practice.”
…hard work, a good ear and continued practice…
What does that look like, fleshed out? It took Tuchman eight hours (!) to write this opening paragraph, all five sentences, of The Guns of August
So gorgeous was the spectacle on the May morning of 1910 when nine kings rode in the funeral of Edward VII of England that the crowd, waiting in hushed and black-clad awe, could not keep back gasps of adminration. In scarlet and blue and green and purple, three by three the sovereigns rode through the palace gates, with plumed helmets, gold braid, crimson sashes, and jeweled orders flashing in the sun. After them came five heirs apparent, forty more imperial or royal highnesses, seven queens–four dowager and three regnant–and a scattering of special ambassadors from uncrowned countries. Together they represented seventy nations in the greatest assemblage of royalty and rank ever gathered in one place and, of its kind, the last. The muffled tongue of Big Ben tolled nine by the clock as the cortege left the palace, but on history’s clock it was sunset, and the sun of the old world was setting in a dying blaze of splendor never to be seen again.
A Living Pencil 
That’s gorgeously written! I have this book on my to-read list – maybe I should move it closer to the top. Carrie
Carol, i had to look up the word twitterpated (my vocab lesson for the day, thanx!)… i’ve just ordered That Distant Land & The Guns of August (birthday gift from my dad: please buy a book for your birthday); he suggested Infidel – but this I can buy at a local bookstore. Have you read it?
I only know *twitterpated* from watching Bambi with my children :)But it surely is a neat word; I like using it.
Beautiful prose, truly.What’s the book about?
Sonja, I haven’t read Infidel, but I’ve read about it. Hey, hey! Have fun with your book order!LimboLady, the book is about WWI, my focus for this summer’s reading. Collin is reading Shaara’s book To The Last Man and I’m reading this book and then we will switch. We’re watching DVDs about WWI, reading and talking.
What a wonderful paragraph. Those eight hours were certainly well spent. Thanks for sharing this.Sandy
I’m reading this book right now, too! It’s in preparation for my 20C history and lit class next year. I really like Tuchman, and I’ve received scads of her books from PBS. She’s wonderful
Oh my heart, is there drool on the screen? Is this a new or old book (re: kahclassical56’s reference to a text book)?? Thanks friend again.