I held on to my college copy for decades till we published our (superb, if I may say so) RSC Shakespeare Complete Works via the Modern Library; I couldn’t really justify keeping both in the house.
Seeing the Prayer Book reminded me that I told one of my church lady friends (we are broad-shouldered, open-hearted Episcopalians) about your book. She’s a retired English prof who has also directed lots of local theater. She was nuts about your book! She texted me last weekend that she was reading your book nonstop instead of doing her long list of chores. The Episcopalian church ladies salute you!
I feel very sure that C.S. Lewis wrote somewhere, in a passage I have been unable to locate for a frustratingly long time, that three literary influences, above all others, are responsible for the shape of modern English: Shakespeare; the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Bible; and the Book of Common Prayer. Which makes this photo a strikely poetic, as well as immensely flattering, celebration of your contribution!
At this point I feel like I would pay money for anyone who can help me locate this passage! In any case, I give you full props for your amazing product placement in this rarefied company!
Here's an answer (which I haven't verified) from Perplexity AI:
"The text you are looking for appears to be from C. S. Lewis's essay The Literary Impact of the Authorized Version (1950). In this work, Lewis discusses the profound influence of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible on English prose and literary style. He identifies the KJV, Shakespeare, and the Book of Common Prayer as pivotal influences shaping modern English. Specifically, Lewis acknowledges their contributions to the rhythm, vocabulary, and expressive power of the English language."
Thanks, Rob. I tried ChatGPT, which also referenced that essay, but admitted that it doesn’t mention the Book of Common Prayer. Google Books Snippets appears to agree. Shakespeare is mentioned once, but in passing. I am now searching out the biggest Lewis nerds I can find—and I have contacts in this community!
Yeah, GPT lied to me too but retracted on cross-examination. My daughter is in college and she just learned a hard lesson this weekend about trusting DeepSeek to find articles that actually exist and are not completely made up.
Here is as good a place as any to confess: I was the first library patron to check out a new book (non-fiction) and my pencil was ready. The author used "tact" instead of "tack" and I corrected it.
Severance has been highly recommended to me by people whose taste I trust (and share), so I guess I'll add it to my list. I think it's the coolest thing that your book made its way to the set, and I'd love to know how that decision was made.
I used to sneak my mother's old Riverside to the couch because it was so much more decadent a reading experience than the paperback individual plays. I can't think of a pleasanter companion on a shelf. And, honestly, God and music aren't so shabby, either.
Presumably the character, a born and bred urban New Yorker, knows the behavior of lambs only as far as hearing about them in the Mary Had a Little poem.
I, for one, am not smitten with the exploding lips. If the mouth is sighing, can the lips explode? They could flap, maybe. The larger note is the overly prescriptive directions to the actor. Perhaps they were made by a stage manager who longed to write.
You might want to take a look at published plays by, among others, Barrie, Shaw, O’Neill, and Albee, similarly littered with prescriptive directions to the actors, all of them, I presume, written by their playwrights.
I’m with Jeff—my understanding is that stage directions were developed during the rehearsal process and recorded by the stage manager. Samuel French often includes prop lists and stage set renderings as well, most likely from the SM’s notebook. (I don’t see Edward Albee including “liquor bottles, cocktail glasses, umbrella, definitely no baby” in his original manuscript but who can say?)
Giggling at that last picture, it occurred to me to wonder whether you ever thought of writing a companion volume, Dreyer's American. Or, perhaps, Dreyer's Online. Since you are.
“(gloomily from ottoman)” also describes Spain, 16th to 18th Centuries.
Any Riverside Shakespeare with that level of wear is heartwarming.
I held on to my college copy for decades till we published our (superb, if I may say so) RSC Shakespeare Complete Works via the Modern Library; I couldn’t really justify keeping both in the house.
Seeing the Prayer Book reminded me that I told one of my church lady friends (we are broad-shouldered, open-hearted Episcopalians) about your book. She’s a retired English prof who has also directed lots of local theater. She was nuts about your book! She texted me last weekend that she was reading your book nonstop instead of doing her long list of chores. The Episcopalian church ladies salute you!
I’m thrilled to be saluted by Episcopalian church ladies! What a delight! Thank you, and my best to you all (or at least both)!
On my shelf you're next to The Transitive Vampire by Karen Elizabeth Gordon.
One of the great titles of all time!
I feel very sure that C.S. Lewis wrote somewhere, in a passage I have been unable to locate for a frustratingly long time, that three literary influences, above all others, are responsible for the shape of modern English: Shakespeare; the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Bible; and the Book of Common Prayer. Which makes this photo a strikely poetic, as well as immensely flattering, celebration of your contribution!
I love this (for me)!
At this point I feel like I would pay money for anyone who can help me locate this passage! In any case, I give you full props for your amazing product placement in this rarefied company!
I don't know if it makes it better or worse that your alluded-to quote sounds incredibly familiar to me. (But I can't find it either.)
I will continue to hold out hope that this quotation will be found until I die.
Here's an answer (which I haven't verified) from Perplexity AI:
"The text you are looking for appears to be from C. S. Lewis's essay The Literary Impact of the Authorized Version (1950). In this work, Lewis discusses the profound influence of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible on English prose and literary style. He identifies the KJV, Shakespeare, and the Book of Common Prayer as pivotal influences shaping modern English. Specifically, Lewis acknowledges their contributions to the rhythm, vocabulary, and expressive power of the English language."
Thanks, Rob. I tried ChatGPT, which also referenced that essay, but admitted that it doesn’t mention the Book of Common Prayer. Google Books Snippets appears to agree. Shakespeare is mentioned once, but in passing. I am now searching out the biggest Lewis nerds I can find—and I have contacts in this community!
Wait, you mean to say an AI confidently asserted an incorrect answer? I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked!
Yeah, GPT lied to me too but retracted on cross-examination. My daughter is in college and she just learned a hard lesson this weekend about trusting DeepSeek to find articles that actually exist and are not completely made up.
Here is as good a place as any to confess: I was the first library patron to check out a new book (non-fiction) and my pencil was ready. The author used "tact" instead of "tack" and I corrected it.
🫢
That bookshelf photo - WOW!
Severance has been highly recommended to me by people whose taste I trust (and share), so I guess I'll add it to my list. I think it's the coolest thing that your book made its way to the set, and I'd love to know how that decision was made.
Regarding friend of a friend's bookshelf: What company!
I mean, right?
I used to sneak my mother's old Riverside to the couch because it was so much more decadent a reading experience than the paperback individual plays. I can't think of a pleasanter companion on a shelf. And, honestly, God and music aren't so shabby, either.
I have two of the books on that shelf.
What excellent bookshelf company you are keeping!
Perfect Sunday read before retiring with my (still aching) 18-day-old hip.
Ooooof. Heal well, Eric, OK?
Thank you, sir.
As one who keeps sheep, I know that lambs wag their tails only when they are nursing. A strange image.
Presumably the character, a born and bred urban New Yorker, knows the behavior of lambs only as far as hearing about them in the Mary Had a Little poem.
I, for one, am not smitten with the exploding lips. If the mouth is sighing, can the lips explode? They could flap, maybe. The larger note is the overly prescriptive directions to the actor. Perhaps they were made by a stage manager who longed to write.
You might want to take a look at published plays by, among others, Barrie, Shaw, O’Neill, and Albee, similarly littered with prescriptive directions to the actors, all of them, I presume, written by their playwrights.
I’m with Jeff—my understanding is that stage directions were developed during the rehearsal process and recorded by the stage manager. Samuel French often includes prop lists and stage set renderings as well, most likely from the SM’s notebook. (I don’t see Edward Albee including “liquor bottles, cocktail glasses, umbrella, definitely no baby” in his original manuscript but who can say?)
Oh, I’ve read them. I suppose those directions can help the reader, even if they don’t help the production.
I’m told that flappers’ lips exploded.
That last photo! Your slim masterpiece wedged between MY two modest works.
Giggling at that last picture, it occurred to me to wonder whether you ever thought of writing a companion volume, Dreyer's American. Or, perhaps, Dreyer's Online. Since you are.