Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-189) and index.

Ch. 1. Taking Notes -- Ch. 2. The Latin Factor -- Ch. 3. Song Without Words -- Ch. 4. Like Something Almost Being Said -- Ch. 5. To Make an End -- Ch. 6. Blind Mouths -- Ch. 7. For and Against.

"Denis Donoghue describes eloquence as "the dancing of speech" and writes, "The aim of a dance is not to get from one part of the village green or the stage to another, it is to create and embody yet another form of life beyond the already known forms of it. In dancing, the dancers enjoy the certitude of being alive in their bodies. That is eloquence."" "In the course of this meditation, Donoghue explores a considerable range of sources - among them, the Bible, Shakespeare, George Eliot, Whitman, T. S. Eliot, and Wallace Stevens, whose "most eloquent endings are often achieved by turning upon a particular word, not in anger but in zeal for a last-minute recovery." Ultimately, Donoghue's nuanced consideration of eloquence will enhance the reading experience of anyone for whom literature matters."--BOOK JACKET.