this book has been reprinted several times since it first appeared in 1994. Each time i took the opportunity to make minor changes and additions. I have now attempted a more extensive revision partly because I am less ignorant of American than I once was and partly because I have changed my mind on certain authora, including Emerson.
The final chapter is almost entirdy new. The main problem remains one of compression . It would be easier and more just to many good writers, to produce a book of twice the length.
參考答案:此书在1994面世（或“此书在1994的初版”）之后，又再版了好几次。每一次我都能做点小增小补。现在我打算出个更为通俗的修订本，部分原因是我对美国人没有过去那么陌生了，也有部分原因是我改变了对包括爱默生在内的某些作家的看法。
最后一整章基本上都是新增的。主要的问题仍在于笔墨的轻重。对于大多数优秀的作家来说，写本两倍长度的书，似乎容易得多。
（你改改吧 我乱弄的）