context

[abrilsp]

Hi

I would like to know a possible context for the following sentence:

"V.S. Naipaul. `In the canon of contemporary British writing he is without peer. Read him’ "

It is difficult for me to figure it out, because of the inverted commas and the dot after the name of the writer. I think can be from a paragraph talking about his writing but I do not understand the punctuation.

Many thanks,

abrilsp

 

[RonBee]

The first "sentence" is a kind of shorthand. The point is to call attention to the person's name. (It works, doesn't it?) I do not know the reason for the punctuation. (More context may or may not help.)

(Say: "I think it is from a paragraph about his writing....")

 

[Tdol]

The use of inverted commas is a bit strange. The single set make sense as that could be a quote in them, but I can't really see the point of the double ones. As Ron says, context could fill in the gaps, but there is a gap there for me. ;-)

 

[Casiopea]

"V.S. Naipaul. `In the canon of contemporary British writing he is without peer. Read him’ "

The underlined portion is a quote within a quote. The context is most likely a review: author's name first, followed by a period followed by a critic's or writer's or professor's opinion. Such opinions are generally found in book reviews or on the outside or inside of the book's cover or jacket. As for the double quoted area ("..."), it seems to me that it may have been taken from a list outlining authors of a given topic or area.

 

[Tdol]

I find "VS Naipul" difficult as a quote- it's a very odd quote. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

I thought it was probably from a book review also. As for the double quotes, I wasn't sure they were in the original. (Perhaps our original poster will clarify that.) Cas could be right tho. She usually is.

:wink:

 

[Casiopea]

I find "VS Naipul" difficult as a quote- it's a very odd quote. ;-)

It's not a quote. It's an author's name, which was qouted.

 

[abrilsp]

Hi

Thanks a lot for the answers.

I should clarify that the double quotes are my invention, I should have said before, sorry about that

Again, thanks a lot,

abrilsp

 

[Tdol]

Hi

Thanks a lot for the answers.

I should clarify that the double quotes are my invention, I should have said before, sorry about that

Again, thanks a lot,

abrilsp

;-)