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On the Art of Reading
Hardcover
Letters & EssaysLiterary CriticismGeneral Reference
ISBN13: 9781025378534
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 238
Weight: 1.13
Height: 0.56 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
On the Art of Reading is a profound and engaging exploration of the relationship between the reader and the written word. Based on a series of lectures delivered at the University of Cambridge, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch offers a spirited defense of reading as a vital, creative, and transformative act. Rather than treating literature as a static subject for dry academic analysis, the author presents it as a living experience that requires active engagement, imaginative sympathy, and personal discovery.
The work delves into various aspects of literacy and literary appreciation, ranging from the importance of children's reading to the enduring influence of the English Bible on prose style. With wit and scholarly insight, Quiller-Couch argues that the true purpose of reading is to cultivate the human spirit and foster a deeper understanding of the world. He advocates for a humanist approach to education that prioritizes the joy of the text over mere technical proficiency. On the Art of Reading remains an essential guide for students, teachers, and bibliophiles alike, offering timeless wisdom on how to approach books as a lifelong practice of intellectual and emotional enrichment.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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