John Ivan Simon

This is a collection of essays on language by one of the greatest critics of the twentieth century. Few writers can compare with the knowledge of language and the way with words demonstrated in John Simon's trenchant essays. This compendium is a delight for all readers who enjoy virtuosity in the use of language to defend the best writers who pursue the best words.

These essays span such topics as writers, linguists, the performing arts, the media, and more. His comments are biting and to the show more point; here is an example:
"In the beginning was the word, But by the time the second word was added to it, there was trouble. For with it came syntax, the thing that tripped up so many people. And they're tripping up more than ever today."("Authors Without Fear or Shame", p. 111)
It is an eclectic collection of elegant prose that will leave you wanting to read more criticism from the pen of John Simon. show less

Hard to rate. I'd have enjoyed it more, and respected the author more, if he hadn't been so melodramatic. I don't agree that a misplaced 'whom' or a mismatched noun-to-verb agreement (everyone...are...") is "tragic" or "horrifying" or "abominable." I certainly don't believe he's suffering the "reign of terror" he claims to be.

But he's an immigrant, and English is not his native language. I wonder, maybe he wants the language to be frozen at the stage at which he learned to love it?

In any show more case, he'd probably accuse the prescriptive [a:Lynne Truss|5571|Lynne Truss|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1215628380p2/5571.jpg] as liberal. And he's horribly sexist, and somewhat clueless about "homosexuals." And he certainly enjoys shredding other essayists and theater critics.

Otoh, (and I won't name names), one work is described as "contain[ing] some very good pieces, as weighty as anything in Oscar Wilde and easily as witty as the best of Matthew Arnold."

For terrific lines like that, and for making me aware of mistakes I make and would rather not, Simon gets props.

To sum, I can't recommend this book, but I don't regret reading it. Thus, 3*s." show less

Not the satisfying collection of nastygrams that Acid Test was. I think this must have something to do with the diminution in the potency of venom of the aging viper.

Mr. Simon is a critic in the most common meaning of the word. He gives little in the way of possible improvements to the subjects of his columns, and little insight beyond nit-picking, is revealed in his work. He also displays an inordinate interest in the physical appearance of the actors...not the roles they portray, but the body beneath. This book is of little interest to the artist.