Unit 11 The Transaction William Zinsser

Background Knowledge

About the author William Knowlton Zinsser (born October 7,1922) is a writer, editor, and teacher. He began his career as a journalist for the New York Herald Tribune, where he worked as a feature writer, drama editor, film critic, and editorial writer, and has been a longtime contributor to leading magazines. Throughout the 1970s, Zinsser taught writing at Yale University where he was master of Branford College. He served as executive editor of the Book-of-the-Month Club from 1979 to He now lives in New York City, his hometown, and teaches at The New School and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. In his books, Zinsser emphasizes word economy. Author James J. Kilpatrick, in his book The Writer's Art says that if he were limited to just one book on how to write, it would be William Zinsser's On Writing Well. Adds Kilpatrick, "Zinsser's sound theory is that 'writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it.'"

E.B. White Elwyn Brooks White (July 11, October 1, 1985) was an American writer, best known as the author of children’s books Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, and as the co-author of the widely used language guide The Elements of Style.

E(lwyn) B(rooks) White ( ) ， leading American essayist and literary stylist of his time. White was known for his crisp, graceful, relaxed style. "No one can write a sentence like White," James Thurber once stated. White's stories ranged from satire to children's fiction. While he often wrote from the perspective of slightly ironic onlooker, he also was a sensitive spokesman for the freedom of the individual.

James Grover Thurber ( ) was born in Columbus, Ohio. He began his career as a reporter for the Columbus Evening Dispatch. He was a writer and a cartoonist, who dealt with the frustrations of modern world. His most famous story is "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". Thurber is generally acknowledged as the greatest American humorist since Mark Twain ( ).

James Thurber James Grover Thurber (December 8, 1894 – November 2, 1961) was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his contributions (both cartoons and short stories) to The New Yorker magazine.