An essay on the essay

In this creative exploration of the contemporary essay, the author offers a brief history of the development of the form, samples the literature on the essay, and takes a critical look at six examples, diverse in subject matter and style, focusing on how these examples reflect the many ways in which the essay has been characterized in several centuries of popularity, as well as how they reflect the demands and expectations of good writing and clear thinking today. The major essays are taken from literature, science, and the visual arts, but also include reflections on contemporary issues; additional essays are referred to in support of a particular style or theme. The writing is conversational in tone and personal in approach.