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Richard Cohen
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How to Write Like Tolstoy: A Journey into the Minds of Our Greatest Writers Hardcover – May 17, 2016
by Richard Cohen (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
For anyone who has ever identified with a hero or heroine, been seduced by a strong opening sentence, or been powerfully moved by a story’s end, How to Write Like Tolstoy is a thought-provoking journey inside the minds of the world’s most accomplished storytellers, from Shakespeare to Stephen King.
“I have tried, as far as possible using the words of the authors themselves, to explain their craft, aiming to take readers on a journey into the concerns, techniques, tricks, flaws, and, occasionally, obsessions of our most luminous writers.”—from the Preface
Behind every acclaimed work of literature is a trove of heartfelt decisions. The best authors put painstaking—sometimes obsessive—effort into each element of their stories, from plot and character development to dialogue and point of view.
What made Nabokov choose the name Lolita? Why did Fitzgerald use first-person narration in The Great Gatsby? How did Kerouac, who raged against revision, finally come to revise On the Road? Veteran editor and teacher Richard Cohen draws on his vast reservoir of a lifetime’s reading and his insight into what makes good prose soar. Here are Gabriel García Márquez’s thoughts on how to start a novel (“In the first paragraph you solve most of the problems with your book”); Virginia Woolf offering her definition of style (“It is all rhythm. Once you get that, you can’t use the wrong words”); and Vladimir Nabokov on the nature of fiction (“All great novels are great fairy tales”).
Cohen has researched the published works and private utterances of our greatest authors to discover the elements that made their prose memorable. The result is a unique exploration of the act and art of writing that enriches our experience of reading both the classics and the best modern fiction. Evoking the marvelous, the famous, and the irreverent, he reveals the challenges that even the greatest writers faced—and shows us how they surmounted them.
Praise for How to Write Like Tolstoy
“The highest compliment one can pay How to Write Like Tolstoy is that it provokes an overwhelming urge to read and write, to be in dialogue or even doomed competition with the greatest creative minds . . . . That Mr. Cohen is an editor, that his love of literature comes in large part from awe in the presence of better writers than he, is no small matter. His love is infectious, and regardless of how well he ends up teaching us to write, that is miracle enough.”—Wall Street Journal
“[A] perfect tasting menu . . . the homage of a passionate reader to the writers who have provided his ‘main pastime.’ ”—The Sunday Times (U.K.)
“This book is a wry, critical friend to both writer and reader. It is filled with cogent examples and provoking statements. You will agree or quarrel with each page, and be a sharper writer and reader by the end.”—Hilary Mantel
“These twelve essays are like twelve perfect university lectures on the craft of writing fiction. The professor—or, in this case, author—succeeds in being not only knowledgeable but also interesting, charming, and engaging.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Insightful . . . [Cohen] escorts his readers to Iris Murdoch for sage counsel on launching a novel, to Salman Rushdie for shrewd guidance on developing an unreliable narrator, to Rudyard Kipling for a cagey hint on creating memorable minor characters, and to Leo Tolstoy for a master’s help in transforming personal experience into fictional art.”—Booklist
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The highest compliment one can pay How to Write Like Tolstoy is that it provokes an overwhelming urge to read and write, to be in dialogue or even doomed competition with the greatest creative minds . . . . That Mr. Cohen is an editor, that his love of literature comes in large part from awe in the presence of better writers than he, is no small matter. His love is infectious, and regardless of how well he ends up teaching us to write, that is miracle enough.”—Wall Street Journal
“[A] perfect tasting menu . . . the homage of a passionate reader to the writers who have provided his ‘main pastime.’ ”—The Sunday Times (U.K.)
“This book is a wry, critical friend to both writer and reader. It is filled with cogent examples and provoking statements. You will agree or quarrel with each page, and be a sharper writer and reader by the end.”—Hilary Mantel
“These twelve essays are like twelve perfect university lectures on the craft of writing fiction. The professor—or, in this case, author—succeeds in being not only knowledgeable but also interesting, charming, and engaging. . . . [Richard] Cohen reveals the possibilities that lie in wait when authors practice selection and intention, sparking the literary imagination.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Insightful . . . [Cohen] escorts his readers to Iris Murdoch for sage counsel on launching a novel, to Salman Rushdie for shrewd guidance on developing an unreliable narrator, to Rudyard Kipling for a cagey hint on creating memorable minor characters, and to Leo Tolstoy for a master’s help in transforming personal experience into fictional art. Even readers with no intentions of writing a novel will relish the opportunity to join their favorite authors at the workbench.”—Booklist
“An elegant, chatty how-to book on writing well, using the lessons of many of the world’s best writers . . . [Cohen] draws on plentiful advice from past and present literary titans. . . . The process of gathering advice from prominent contemporary authors such as Francine Prose, Jonathan Franzen, and Nick Hornby gives Cohen the opportunity to tell any number of amusing, often discursive stories about great literature and authors, mixed with the writers’ own observations.”—Publishers Weekly
“Lush and instructive . . . [Cohen] is a generous tour guide through his literary world.”—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Richard Cohen is the former publishing director of Hutchinson and Hodder & Stoughton and the founder of Richard Cohen Books. Works that he has edited have gone on to win the Pulitzer, Booker, and Whitbread/Costa prizes, and more than twenty have been #1 bestsellers. The author of By the Sword, an award-winning history of swordplay, and Chasing the Sun, a wide-ranging narrative account of the star that gives us life, he was for two years program director of the Cheltenham Festival of Literature and for seven years a visiting professor in creative writing at the University of Kingston-upon-Thames. He has written for The New York Times and most leading London newspapers, and is currently at work on a history of historians. He lives in New York City.
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Product details
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Random House (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
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Biography
Richard Cohen is the former publishing director of Hutchinson and Hodder & Stoughton and the founder of Richard Cohen Books. Five times U.K. national saber champion, he was selected for the British Olympic fencing team in 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984. Richard is the author of ”Chasing the Sun”, “By the Sword” and “How To Write Like Tolstoy”. He has written for the New York Times, the Guardian, the Observer, the Daily Telegraph, the New York Times Book Review and has appeared on BBC radio and television.
Connect with Richard on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardCohenAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutrichard
Customer reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
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like tolstoy write like fun read richard cohen editor and writer creative writing books on writing book to read read other books authors literary fascinating literature useful examples chapters readers insights irony sentence
Top Reviews
Fuss Bud
5.0 out of 5 stars What a delightful read!Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
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This book is chock full of anecdotes about all kinds of writers, classic and modern. It spans the whole history of fiction and criticism but reads like a fascinating dinner conversation with the author, a noted editor. I particularly liked the irreverent chapter on plagiarism and the intricate but highly readable chapter on irony. The chapter comparing story and plot was also enlightening. This book is not the usual how-to pap for beginning writers. It is research extraordinaire about literature and engrossing as well as highly entertaining. Will be a best seller and sets a high bar for any other book on writing fiction. I recommend it to anyone who is widely read and wants to write better.
8 people found this helpful
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Lucy Barr
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and fun, a book for anyone who loves books!Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016
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I couldn't resist picking this book up based on its cover alone--and wow, I had no idea I was in for such a treat. Cohen has a way of really bringing the greatest authors of our time to life--their motivations, obsessions, tricks and talents. He has access to so many stories we wouldn't otherwise know, and he tells them all beautifully. Not a writer myself nor an aspiring one, but certainly someone who loves to read, I found myself turning the pages of this completely delectable book. Highly recommend.
11 people found this helpful
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Julian Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars WORTH SIX STARSReviewed in the United States on June 18, 2016
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If you're a published writer or in the early creative stages
of hopefully heading toward that goal, buy, read, and don't
give up on How To Write Like Tolstoy - a fascinating and
illuminating foray into the minds, habits, and creative processes
of a host of the world's well-known writers...many of whom
have benefited from having worked with Mr. Cohen as an editor.
You know the expression "those who can, do - those who can't,
teach?", well Richard Cohen has been on both sides, as an
editor and writer. His book exceeded my expectations: definitely
not another "how to" book.
9 people found this helpful
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Coffee Break Time
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2020
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First I read the description and I said I'd give it a shot. I hadn't heard of the author (sorry.), but I dropped it in my amazon cart and pushed that buy button. Second, it came early; so that was unexpectedly nice. Well, I looked over the book when it arrived, opened up to the intro and didn't stop reading till I realized half my day was gone and there was other work I had to do. This definitely held my interest. The author draws you into the information with a touch of humor and lots of comparisons between different perspectives on writing styles and well known classic books and authors. A fun read while easily relating the information with many books I've read in the past. He broadened my awareness of how a writer gets his point across or achieves an outcome. Totally worth my time and money. Loved it.
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Mark
4.0 out of 5 stars Not really so much about TolstoyReviewed in the United States on February 24, 2017
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If Tolstoy's method of writing is the focus of your interest, you may be disappointed in this book However, there are many other interesting and uncommon anecdotes about writers and writing—just not as many about Tolstoy as the title might lead you to expect. And the sections about Tolstoy, also, seemed out of the ordinary, which I appreciated.
8 people found this helpful
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johnm
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on writing if not the bestReviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
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One of the best books on writing if not the best. As the WSJ put it, it's like reading a class in creative writing. Great references and criticism. Beginning writer or experienced. This is a great book. Already read it twice and will read again.
8 people found this helpful
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liliana prates
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, especially in that it's actually useful beyond ...Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017
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Great book, especially in that it's actually useful beyond the most basic of writing tips. A plethora of examples. Not exactly easy reading, which is a plus.
I would go ahead and disregard the title, though, as that almost caused me to not buy the book.
2 people found this helpful
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Jvgopin
5.0 out of 5 stars but to better undersand and enjoy many good literary books given as ...Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2017
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Read not just for improving your writing, but to better undersand and enjoy many good literary books given as examples of good writing.
4 people found this helpful
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Top international reviews
Andrew G. Marshall
4.0 out of 5 stars Misleading title but still recommendedReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2017
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'A journey into the minds of our greatest writers' is a better description of this book, which started life as a series of lectures by a creative writing lecturer at the University of Kingston-Upon-Thames, than the main title. I know my description makes it sound the driest and least interesting book that you'll ever pick up - even if you're a writer yourself.
However, Cohen has spent a life-time in the book trade - including as a publishing director of Hodder - and he shares lots of behind the scenes discussion with his authors. He has been the editor of Kingsley Amis, John le Carre, Sebastian Faulks and umm Jeffrey Archer so he knows what he's talking about but most importantly, he approaches everything with wit and a lightness of touch. I bought this book to study - to improve my own writing - but instead of taking notes, I read it as a bedtime treat.
If you love books this will allow you to peek behind the curtain at the tricks of the trade, deepen your appreciation of good writing and throw up lots more authors / books to explore. Finally, in a chapter about endings, Cohen finished with one with one of the neatest and most satisfying ones himself.
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