Essay Genre - Writing Research

Cover of Galileo's Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina
Image by Theresa LaBrecque
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

An essay is a short literary piece that gives the author's own point of view on a topic. An essay can be arguments, observations, recollections, reflections, etc. 

As essays are usually relatively short, non-fiction books often feature a collection of essays, either by one or multiple authors. (Although, an essay can be book-length and published by themselves.) 

Most modern essays are written in prose, but they could also be written in poetic verse. We also sometimes see essays written in the form of an open letter. 

(Note: Publishing personal, originally private letters in book form is a different genre.)

Essays Genre Book Reviews:

• Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann
• Reviewed July 2018

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