Blurb your enthusiasm : an A-Z of literary persuasion

A dazzling dictionary of book blurbs, filled with writing tips, literary folklore and publishing secrets ‘The bookiest book about books you’ll ever read – I loved it’ Lucy Mangan ‘Truly delightful...I couldn’t have had more fun’ Benjamin Dreyer ‘Very funny, erudite and profound. A delight!’ Nina Stibbe They’re just a few words on books. But what are blurbs really doing (other than trying to twist your arm)? This book is all about those 100-or-so words that take seconds to read but can make a world of difference – and what they tell us about literary history, the art of writing, authors from George Orwell to Zadie Smith, genres from children’s fiction to bonkbusters, cover design, the dark arts of persuasion and even who we are as readers. It’s also about quotes, titles, first lines, hooks, adverts, puns, swearing, plots, someone called Belinda and much more. It answers questions such as: Why do some authors hate blurbs so much they burn their own books? Should all adjectives be murdered? Is it true that (checks jacket) you need an animal on a book’s cover to make it a bestseller? A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A small masterpiece. There is something funny, notable or awe-inspiring on every single page' Jenny Colgan, Spectator A joyful celebration of books – the perfect gift for bibliophiles, word lovers and anyone who's ever wondered, should you judge a book by its cover? We love the words in books – but what about the words on them? How do they work their magic? Penguin Books blurb wizard Louise Willder joyfully divulges what those 100-or-so words can tell us about literary history, the craft of writing, authors from George Orwell to Zadie Smith, genres from children's fiction to bonkbusters, cover design, the dark arts of persuasion and even why we read. She also answers burning questions such as: Should all adjectives be murdered? Is blurbing sometimes maybe lying? Which classic novel was nearly called The High Bouncing Lover? What are the worst blurbs of all time? 'The bookiest book about books you'll ever read – I loved it' Lucy Mangan 'Truly delightful...I couldn't have had more fun' Benjamin Dreyer 'Very funny, erudite and profound. A delight!' Nina Stibbe The bookiest book about books you’ll ever read – I loved it’ Lucy Mangan ‘Truly delightful...I couldn’t have had more fun’ Benjamin Dreyer ‘Very funny, erudite and profound. A delight!’ Nina Stibbe This is the outside story of books. From blurbs to titles, quotes to (checks jacket) cute animal designs – via author feuds, writing tricks, classic literature, bonkbusters, plot spoilers and publishing secrets – discover why it’s good to judge a book by its cover. Maybe even this one... "This is the outside story of books. From blurbs to titles, quotes to (checks jacket) cute animal designs - via author feuds, writing tricks, classic literature, bonkbusters, plot spoilers and publishing secrets - discover why it's good to judge a book by its cover. Maybe even this one..." --publisher's website