There are some pieces of American prose I find uniquely beautiful and uniquely American. They don't mince words. They don't take more words than necessary to make their point. And a point they do make. Consider: 1) Declaration of Independence. It states its' points and defends them well. Powerfully and concisely. 2) "Yes Virginia There Is A Santa Claus", when Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. If you read it in the Sun, it must be true. Check it out http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/ 5 paragraphs. 3) George Washington's letter to the Hebrew congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. Discussed here http://www.politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=232322&page=8&p=1063621932#post1063621932 I don't want to use up too much internet repeating that, here. 4) The letter penned by William Barrett Travis from the Alamo. It is short enough, enjoy it here - bold a fav line. Commandancy of the The Alamo Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836 To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World Fellow Citizens & compatriots I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country Victory or Death. William Barrett Travis. Lt. Col. comdt. P. S. The Lord is on our side When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. Travis Great American writing is concise, employs words with meaning, and acknowledges a greater power than ourselves. Deists values, if y'know what I mean. Values of "good". A style I have not seen in any not prose with any regularity. They all seem like words upon words like bobov uploads. We be friends. I am dyslexic by nature and a science person by education. So I would appreciate any comments of what I have Identified as Unique to American Prose and other examples, even of a different style. Please Lord not Emerson Moi No
mark twain always comes to mind, as one of the great american humorists.. satire, understatement & overstatement were done beautifully.. There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless. Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt. ~Mark Twain I don't mind what the opposition say of me so long as they don't tell the truth about me. But when they descend to telling the truth about me I consider that this is taking an unfair advantage. ~Mark Twain All Congresses and Parliaments have a kindly feeling for idiots, and a compassion for them, on account of personal experience and heredity. ~Mark Twain It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense. ~Mark Twain
Moi takes many words to praise conciseness. Were he as eloquent as some others here (ahem), he might have done better. May a Merciful Providence shower him with the ability to write a good paragraph.
