COMP CLOSED: ‘Blurb Your Enthusiasm’ by Louise Willder

A dazzling dictionary of book blurbs, filled with writing tips, literary folklore and publishing secrets…

This week’s giveaway is a joyful celebration of books – the perfect gift for bibliophiles, word lovers and anyone who’s ever wondered, ‘should you judge a book by its cover?’ The book is Blurb Your Enthusiasm by Louise Willder and here’s its own blurb:

We love the words in books – but what about the words ON them? How do they work their magic? Here is a book about the ways books entice us to read them: their titles, quotes, covers and, above all, blurbs – via authors from Jane Austen to Zadie Smith, writing tricks, classic literature, bonkbusters, plot spoilers and publishing secrets. It's nothing less than the inside story of the outside of books.

It answers questions like:

• Why do some authors hate blurbs so much they burn their own books?
• Should all adjectives be murdered?
• Is blurbing sometimes maybe lying?
• Is it true that (checks jacket) you need an animal on a book's cover to make it a bestseller?
• What are the most terrible blurbs of all time?

Join Penguin publishing word wizard Louise Willder (five thousand blurbs written, mostly avoiding the phrase ‘unputdownable tour-de-force') to discover why we should judge a book by its cover. Even this one. It's an unputdownable tour-de-force…

‘A small masterpiece. There is something funny, notable or awe-inspiring on every single page' – Jenny Colgan, Spectator

‘The bookiest book about books you'll ever read – I loved it' – Lucy Mangan

‘Truly delightful…I couldn't have had more fun' – Benjamin Dreyer

‘Very funny, erudite and profound. A delight!' – Nina Stibbe

If you’d like to win your own copy, write a back cover blurb (25 words or fewer) for an imaginary ‘book’ about YOU trying to win this book! (E.g. “One woman. One giveaway. Only one week to make it happen.” etc!) Our favourite three creative blurbs will win a copy!

Entries close midday Monday 9 January, (Syd/Melb time).

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR YOUR ENTRIES! WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND ANNOUNCED IN OUR NEWSLETTER.