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Tue 18 Mar, 2008 03:32 am
Quote:She had earlier published autobiographical writings in magazines and a story entitled 'A Chinese Woman Speaks' in the Asia Magazine. Her breakthrough novel, THE GOOD EARTH, appeared in 1931.
Does "breakthrough novel" here mean that The Good Earth was the first literary creative effort that brought to her to the limelight?
The Good Earth was one of the first Western novels to deal with "modern" China. Pearl Buck became very well known.
I don't know your source, but I suspect the passage was not written by a native English speaker. "Breakthroughs" are usually discoveries rather than literary creations.
Re: Breakthrough novel
fansy wrote:Quote:She had earlier published autobiographical writings in magazines and a story entitled 'A Chinese Woman Speaks' in the Asia Magazine. Her breakthrough novel, THE GOOD EARTH, appeared in 1931.
Does "breakthrough novel" here mean that The Good Earth was the first literary creative effort that brought to her to the limelight?
Yes, I believe so. The first work which brought her to a wider public recognition.
Noddy24 wrote:The Good Earth was one of the first Western novels to deal with "modern" China. Pearl Buck became very well known.
I don't know your source, but I suspect the passage was not written by a native English speaker. "Breakthroughs" are usually discoveries rather than literary creations.
This is a slightly different meaning though, Noddy.
++++++++++
M-W:
Main Entry:
break·through
Function:
noun
Usage:
often attributive
Date:
1918
3 a: a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique <a>
b: a person's first notable success <a>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakthrough
=====================
JJT--
I'm willing to be trumped by Established Authority and Good Research, but.....
"Breakthrough" in the second sense doesn't flow trippingly--or even clickity-clack--from my keyboard.
I expect Merriam-Webster will survive--and so shall I.
Noddy24 wrote:JJT--
I'm willing to be trumped by Established Authority and Good Research, but.....
"Breakthrough" in the second sense doesn't flow trippingly--or even clickity-clack--from my keyboard.
I expect Merriam-Webster will survive--and so shall I.
Howdy Noddy.
I agree. There are certain new additions to language that strike some ears as strange, but it really isn't any different than one getting used to broccoli. Some never will and that's alright for them but it's still a food.
I will never
never never never
write "alright".
Well maybe just this once.
McTag wrote:I will never
never never never
write "alright".
Well maybe just this once.
How are you on broccoli, McTag?
JTT wrote:McTag wrote:I will never
never never never
write "alright".
Well maybe just this once.
How are you on broccoli, McTag?
One can become accustomed to most things, given sufficient time, but the wise man steers clear of bad things and corrupting influences.
Broccoli is high in sulfur and therefore an acquired taste.
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