Book · 1938 · English literature
Enemies of promise and other essays
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Why people recommend it
Enemies of Promise by Cyril Connolly is a celebrated work of literary criticism and essays examining the various personal, social, and aesthetic pitfalls that threaten to derail a writer's career. On How I Write, Dana Gioia referenced the book, noting how each chapter outlines a distinct way an author can go wrong in their artistic journey. Stephen Fry also discussed the book across multiple appearances on The Book Review, celebrating Connolly as a brilliant critic, the founder of Horizon magazine, and a central figure among twentieth-century literary circles like the Bloomsbury group. Fry specifically pointed to the first half of the book, where Connolly categorizes prose into distinct writing styles and evaluates the stylistic choices available to authors. Writers and critics frequently point others toward Connolly's insights because the text provides a remarkably candid, witty, and perceptive diagnostic of the artistic temperament, offering enduring wisdom on the perpetual struggle to produce lasting literature.
Every mention
Stephen Fry sir Connelly who was a great critic founded Horizon magazine and he was a friend of all the writers... he w… 2
“sir Conelly who was a great critic founded Horizon magazine and he was a friend of all the writers of the Bloomsbury group and many others in the 20th century he wrote a book called the enemies of Promise in the first half of which he talks about two types of writing”
“sir Connelly who was a great critic founded Horizon magazine and he was a friend of all the writers... he wrote a book called the enemies of Promise”
Dana Gioia his first book called enemies of Promise which each chapter shows you a different way that you'll go wrong… 1
“his first book called enemies of Promise which each chapter shows you a different way that you'll go wrong as a writer”