Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres [Vols I,II, III]

Blair D.D. & F.R.S., Hugh

Published by A Strahan, T Cadwell, W Creech, London & Edinburgh, 1796

About this Item

Fair/fair/fair. Brown leather boards (separated) Wikipedia: "arguably Blair's most important work: Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. A compilation of 47 of Blair's lectures given to students at the University of Edinburgh, serves as a practical guide for youth on composition and language; a guide that makes Blair the first great theorist of written discourse. Lectures is important not because it presents radical new theories. In fact, Blair himself admits that the work is a suffusion of his understanding of classical and modern theories of language. Lectures draws on the classic works of theorists such as Quintilian and Cicero combined with the modern works of Addison, Burke, and Lord Kames to become one of the first whole language guides. As one of the first works to focus on written discourse, rather than solely on oral discourse, Blair's Lectures is a comprehensive, accessible prescriptive composition guide that combines centuries of theory in a cohesive form. Blair believed that social cultivation, and most importantly the proper use of polite literature and effective writing, was the key to social success. For him, an education in literature was socially useful, both in its ability to elevate one's social status and its ability to promote virtue and morality. Blair also acknowledged that a person must have virtue and personal character, as well as knowledge of literature to be an effective speaker or writer." ALL THREE VOLUMES - Rare together. Perfect for restorative rebinding. [B234] . Seller Inventory # 011977

Bibliographic Details

Title: Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres [...

Publisher: A Strahan, T Cadwell, W Creech, London & Edinburgh

Publication Date: 1796

Binding: Hardcover

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

Edition: FIRST.