Gardner was almost as famous as a teacher as he was for his writing. Distilled from his courses and seminars, The Art of Fiction is a no-nonsense and cogent guide to the principles and techniques of good writing. This is a work for the serious beginning writer and makes no apologies for the demands of craft.

"A densely packed book of advice to all writers, not just young ones..." —Margaret Manning, Boston Globe

"He lays out virtually everything a person might want to know [about] how to say it, with good and bad examples." —William McPherson, Washington Post
John Gardner received wide acclaim for his novels, his collections of short stories, and his critical works. He was born in Batavia, New York, in 1933, and taught English, Anglo-Saxon, and creative writing at Oberlin College, Chico State College, San Francisco State University, Southern Illinois University, Bennington College, and SUNY–Binghamton. His books include The Art of Fiction, The Art of Living, Grendel, Jason and Medeia, The Life and Times of Chaucer, Mickelsson’s Ghosts, Nickel Mountain, October Light, The Resurrection, The Sunlight Dialogues, Stillness and Shadows, and various books for children. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1982. View titles by John Gardner

"It will fascinate anyone interested in how fiction gets put together.  For the young writer it will become a necessary handbook, a stern judge, an encouraging friend... In the first half of the book, Gardner investigated just what fiction is.  In the second half, he treats specific technical matters. The Art of Fiction is filled with lecture counsel, wise encouragement." -John L'Heureux, The New York Times Book Review

"A densely packed book of advice to all writers, not just young ones... It is serious, provocative, and funny, and I recommend it to anyone who cares about literature."- Margaret Manning, The Boston Globe

"He lays out virtually everything a person might want to know [about] how to say it, with good and bad examples and judgments falling like autumn leaves in a November storm." -William McPherson, The Washington Post

"The next best thing to graduate workshop in fiction writing. Drawing on examples from Homer to Kafka to Joyce Carol Oates, Gardner unravels the mysteries of plot, sentence structure, diction, and point of view." - Book-of-the-Month Club News

About

Gardner was almost as famous as a teacher as he was for his writing. Distilled from his courses and seminars, The Art of Fiction is a no-nonsense and cogent guide to the principles and techniques of good writing. This is a work for the serious beginning writer and makes no apologies for the demands of craft.

"A densely packed book of advice to all writers, not just young ones..." —Margaret Manning, Boston Globe

"He lays out virtually everything a person might want to know [about] how to say it, with good and bad examples." —William McPherson, Washington Post

Author

John Gardner received wide acclaim for his novels, his collections of short stories, and his critical works. He was born in Batavia, New York, in 1933, and taught English, Anglo-Saxon, and creative writing at Oberlin College, Chico State College, San Francisco State University, Southern Illinois University, Bennington College, and SUNY–Binghamton. His books include The Art of Fiction, The Art of Living, Grendel, Jason and Medeia, The Life and Times of Chaucer, Mickelsson’s Ghosts, Nickel Mountain, October Light, The Resurrection, The Sunlight Dialogues, Stillness and Shadows, and various books for children. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1982. View titles by John Gardner

Praise

"It will fascinate anyone interested in how fiction gets put together.  For the young writer it will become a necessary handbook, a stern judge, an encouraging friend... In the first half of the book, Gardner investigated just what fiction is.  In the second half, he treats specific technical matters. The Art of Fiction is filled with lecture counsel, wise encouragement." -John L'Heureux, The New York Times Book Review

"A densely packed book of advice to all writers, not just young ones... It is serious, provocative, and funny, and I recommend it to anyone who cares about literature."- Margaret Manning, The Boston Globe

"He lays out virtually everything a person might want to know [about] how to say it, with good and bad examples and judgments falling like autumn leaves in a November storm." -William McPherson, The Washington Post

"The next best thing to graduate workshop in fiction writing. Drawing on examples from Homer to Kafka to Joyce Carol Oates, Gardner unravels the mysteries of plot, sentence structure, diction, and point of view." - Book-of-the-Month Club News