In an age unhealthily obsessed with substance, this is a book on the importance of pure style, from the bestselling author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon.

From classic poetry to pop lyrics and from the King James Bible to advertising slogans, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase - such as ‘Tiger, Tiger, burning bright’, or ‘To be or not to be’ - memorable.

In his inimitably entertaining and witty style he takes apart famous lines and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde. Whether you’re aiming for literary immortality or just an unforgettable one-liner, The Elements of Eloquence proves that you don't need to have anything to say - you simply need to say it well.

'Sparkling ... the book offers many pleasures ... I laughed out loud at the examples chosen' Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph

• The Horologicon
• A Mind of Its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives
• The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
• The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology is Rewriting our Understanding of Genetics, Disease and Inheritance
• How We Invented Freedom & Why It Matters