How to Write English Prose

David Bentley Hart examines the prose style of Sir Thomas Browne, highlighting two passages that exemplify the range of his writing—one marked by lyrical beauty and spaciousness, the other by dense complexity and playful extravagance. Hart characterizes Browne's prose as a magnificent Baroque construction, where ornate mannerisms and elaborate stylistic flourishes serve as essential architectural elements rather than mere embellishment. The essay presents Browne's work as an ideal model for understanding English prose excellence.