---
product_id: 228151
title: "The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present"
price: "¥6385"
currency: JPY
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/228151-the-art-of-the-personal-essay-an-anthology-from-classical
store_origin: JP
region: Japan
---

# 4.5/5 star rating from 342 readers 500+ years of essay history From classical era to present The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present

**Price:** ¥6385
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the timeless art of personal storytelling—join the literary elite today!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present
- **How much does it cost?** ¥6385 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/228151-the-art-of-the-personal-essay-an-anthology-from-classical)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Timeless Literary Journey:** Explore essays spanning over five centuries, from Montaigne to modern masters.
- • **Highly Acclaimed Anthology:** Boasts a 4.5-star rating with hundreds of glowing reviews from avid readers and writers.
- • **Versatile Reading Experience:** Dive in anywhere—start with contemporary voices or classical pioneers.
- • **Perfect for Writers & Readers Alike:** A must-have tool for anyone looking to master or appreciate the art of the personal essay.
- • **Curated by a Personal Essay Authority:** Edited by Philip Lopate, a leading voice in essay writing and criticism.

## Overview

The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present is a critically acclaimed collection edited by Philip Lopate, featuring essays from the origins of the form to contemporary voices. With over 500 years of literary history, this used book in good condition offers a rich, versatile reading experience highly rated by 342 readers, making it an essential resource for both essay enthusiasts and aspiring writers.

## Description

desertcart.com: The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present: 9780385423397: Lopate, Phillip: Books

Review: Excellent Anthology!!! - Laurie Stone, the essayist and creative writing teacher, recommended this book to me as the most essential volume on the personal essay. I could not agree more. The editor, Philip Lopate, is one of the most well-respected authors of the personal essay and he has compiled this anthology of pieces from the classical era to the present. The book works well for readers and writers alike. Lopate, in his lengthy introduction, gives an overview of the personal essay, and instructions on how to use this book as a learning tool. It is divided into several sections, beginning with the essay's forerunners in the classical period. Michel De Montaigne, the father of the personal essay, gets his own section. Personally, I did not find it useful to read the book cover-to-cover - I read it in reverse. I started out with the most recent, contemporary essays - those most accessible to me - and went backwards in order to see the devolution of the essay, as it were. The essay is fast becoming one of my favorite forms - it is short, funny, and insightful. I highly recommend this book to ANYONE.
Review: Great selection of essays, some historic ones - This is a nice, thick books of essays, dating back centuries up through contemporaries.

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #74,601 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #13 in Comparative Literature #31 in Rhetoric (Books) #162 in Essays (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 342 Reviews |

## Images

![The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81a5jH2iBcL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Anthology!!!
*by J***O on November 23, 2004*

Laurie Stone, the essayist and creative writing teacher, recommended this book to me as the most essential volume on the personal essay. I could not agree more. The editor, Philip Lopate, is one of the most well-respected authors of the personal essay and he has compiled this anthology of pieces from the classical era to the present. The book works well for readers and writers alike. Lopate, in his lengthy introduction, gives an overview of the personal essay, and instructions on how to use this book as a learning tool. It is divided into several sections, beginning with the essay's forerunners in the classical period. Michel De Montaigne, the father of the personal essay, gets his own section. Personally, I did not find it useful to read the book cover-to-cover - I read it in reverse. I started out with the most recent, contemporary essays - those most accessible to me - and went backwards in order to see the devolution of the essay, as it were. The essay is fast becoming one of my favorite forms - it is short, funny, and insightful. I highly recommend this book to ANYONE.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great selection of essays, some historic ones
*by M***P on December 4, 2024*

This is a nice, thick books of essays, dating back centuries up through contemporaries.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A 'Greatest Hits' anthology
*by G***D on July 14, 2015*

This book is full of all the classic essays and is an excellent resource for those studying writing. This book is an artifact of how culture has progressed over the centuries, and shows the evolution our perceptions. The editor, a teacher of the essay, put together the greatest in the field for this masterpiece. It's something great to have nearby on a shelf to refer or escape to without the commitment one needs for reading a book.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present
- To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction (An Essential Guide for Writers)
- Crafting The Personal Essay: A Guide for Writing and Publishing Creative Non-Fiction

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*Product available on Desertcart Japan*
*Store origin: JP*
*Last updated: 2026-02-26*