Starting from Scratch

Rita Mae Brown. Bantam, $19 (272pp) ISBN 978-0-553-34630-5

Focusing on the wonders of the English language, ``Brown here gives nonwriters and writers alike a book to enjoy quite apart from its instructional value,'' stated PW . `` The tone is stern but empathetic, spiced by the author's sassy wit and full of information on the writer's craft.'' (Apr.)

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