A Grammar of the English Language (Barnes & Noble Digital Library): In a Series of Letters

by William Cobbett

William Cobbett's lessons on grammar, punctuation, and everything pertaining to writing well are conveyed in an intriguing form; namely, in letters to his son James Paul Cobbett. Cobbett's work cannot be properly understood outside of the context of his career; the grammar lessons found here are put in the service of expressing his political ideas.

Genres: Writing, Language

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

William Cobbett (1763-1835) was an English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist. He believed that reforming Parliament and abolishing the rotten boroughs would help to end the poverty of farm labourers, and he attacked the borough-mongers, sinecurists and "tax-eaters" relentlessly. He was also against the Corn Laws, a tax on imported grain. Early in his career, he was a loyalist supporter of King and Country: but later he joined and successfully publicised the radical movement, which led to the Reform Bill of 1832, and to his winning the parliamentary seat of Oldham. Although he was not a Catholic, he became a fiery advocate of Catholic Emancipation in Britain. Through the seeming contradictions in Cobbett's life, two things stayed constant: an opposition to authority and a suspicion of novelty. He wrote many polemics, on subjects from political reform to religion, but is best known for his book from 1830, Rural Rides, which is still in print today.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was vivid, acerbic, and entertaining, as well as educational. To think, something so humorous was written over 200 years ago! I really enjoyed this read.