Word Perfect
Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year
Published on 15. October 2020
Book
Hardback
416 pages
978-1-5293-1151-8 (ISBN)
Description
'Susie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words and language' Pam Ayres
'Susie Dent is a national treasure' Richard Osman
Welcome to a year of wonder with Susie Dent, lexicographer, logophile, and longtime queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner.
From the real Jack the Lad to the theatrically literal story behind stealing someone's thunder, from tartle (forgetting someone's name at the very moment you need it) to snaccident (the unintentional eating of an entire packet of biscuits), WORD PERFECT is a brilliant linguistic almanac full of unforgettable stories, fascinating facts, and surprising etymologies tied to every day of the year. You'll never be lost for words again.
'Susie Dent is a national treasure' Richard Osman
Welcome to a year of wonder with Susie Dent, lexicographer, logophile, and longtime queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner.
From the real Jack the Lad to the theatrically literal story behind stealing someone's thunder, from tartle (forgetting someone's name at the very moment you need it) to snaccident (the unintentional eating of an entire packet of biscuits), WORD PERFECT is a brilliant linguistic almanac full of unforgettable stories, fascinating facts, and surprising etymologies tied to every day of the year. You'll never be lost for words again.
Reviews / Votes
I love this book. Nobody on earth knows more about the English language than Susie Dent and nobody writes about it more entertainingly. This is a treat for every day of the year * GYLES BRANDRETH * Susie Dent is a national treasure * RICHARD OSMAN * A golden vaulted cave of fascinating and funny hidden gems for people who love words, for people who aren't that bothered about words and people who don't even really like words...and that is the magic of Susie Dent. * JO BRAND * Utterly addictive . . . unputdownable -- RICHARD & JUDY * Daily Express * Stuffed with delightful words . . . it'll keep Scrabble fanatics and wordsmiths entertained for hours * Radio Times * Entertaining * Spectator * Packed full of fascinating facts -- Charlotte Heathcote * Sunday Express * Magic -- Mark Mason * Daily Mail * You can pick it up and be absorbed for hours * The Press (York) *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Murray Press
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5293-1151-8 (9781529311518)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2020
1st Edition
John Murray
€6.49
Available for download
Person
Susie Dent is the resident word expert in Dictionary Corner on C4's Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, has been on every programme about words: 15 x 15, Word of Mouth, More or Less; and is a regular panellist on R4's Wordaholics. Susie also writes a weekly column for the Radio Times, reviews for the Spectator and has over 570,000 followers on Twitter. This is the book she has always wanted to write.