A brilliantly funny and clever exploration of why it's only in a bookshop that you'll find something you never knew you wanted to read, from the author of The Etymologicon, The Horologicon and The Elements of Eloquence
A brilliantly funny and clever exploration of why it's only in a bookshop that you'll find something you never knew you wanted to read, from the autho...
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON Mark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncovering the techniques that have made immortal such lines as 'To be or not to be' and 'Bond. James Bond.' In his inimitably entertaining and witty style, he takes apart famous quotations and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde or John Lennon. Crammed with tricks to make the most humdrum sentiments seem poetic or wise, The Elements of Eloquence reveals how writers through the ages have turned humble words into literary gold - and...
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON Mark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncoveri...
For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ." Nor do we know that Christmas was first celebrated in 243 AD on March 28--and only moved to December 25 in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of Christmas crackers was merely a way of...
For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen ...
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 'Witty and erudite ...stuffed with the kind of arcane information that nobody strictly needs to know, but which is a pleasure to learn nonetheless.' Nick Duerden, Independent 'Particularly good ...Forsyth takes words and draws us into their, and our, murky history' William Leith, Evening Standard The Etymologicon is an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language. What is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised...
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 'Witty and erudite ...stuffed with the kind of arcane information that nobody strictly needs to know, but which...
'Enchanting' Stephen FryDid you know:- Lord Byron sold more books in a day than Jane Austen did in her lifetime- During the First World War there were more women poets published than soldier poets- A kitchen-maid became one of the most popular poets of the 18th centurySome people worry that they don't appreciate poetry; but English poetry wasn't written to be appreciated, it was written to be enjoyed. For six centuries people have been reading poetry for enjoyment - for fun, romance, religion and entertainment - and this is a book about those people. Rhyme & Reason...
'Enchanting' Stephen FryDid you know:- Lord Byron sold more books in a day than Jane Austen did in her lifetime- During the First World W...
