How to Tell a Story

More about the book

Aaron Sorkin, the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter, encourages aspiring writers to study Aristotle's Poetics, a treatise that has become the standard handbook for writing drama, novels, and screenplays. Despite its challenging nature, this text offers unparalleled insights into successful storytelling. Aristotle's exploration of plot, character, audience perception, and tragic pleasure has shaped the understanding of narrative for centuries. It remains a vital reference for professional writers, yet few have read it due to its complexity and the need for guidance to fully grasp its concepts. Philip Freeman seeks to make Aristotle's Poetics accessible to a modern audience, particularly for those eager to immerse themselves in its teachings. Through a faithful yet readable translation, along with an introduction and commentary, Freeman aims to illuminate the careful arguments and profound insights of this influential work, encouraging a new generation of writers to appreciate its brilliance and apply its lessons to their craft.