Genre Analysis Of English Classic Novel Blurbs

This study offers a genre analysis of book blurbs, a type of professional writing, and chooses English classic novel blurbs as its research object. By applying the ESP School’s move analysis approach to thirty selected blurbs, the study reveals their basic structural organization and examines the linguistic devices used within each move and step. As a result, it uncovers how editors promote their books to the public through specific structural and linguistic arrangements in blurbs.Results show that most blurbs generally adopt moves in such a linear structure as "Catchphrase (Move1)â†'Description (Move2)â†'Extension (Move3)", although a move can appear more than once in a blurb in which, for example, its catchphrase may be repeated and mixed with the extension. Each move has its dominant step: catchphrase is featured with literary status/impact annunciation, description with plot summary, and extension with main themes conclusion. However, other steps, though optional, may also produce equally promotional effects once used in an appropriate way. In terms of grammar, the simple present tense is preferred in most cases as a reader friendly strategy. In addition, the passive voice is occasionally combined with the active to enrich sentence patterns and classify information into different levels. As such, a genre analysis of novel blurbs not only showcases an implication of the approach but also provides insights for book blurb writers.