
Scorn
The Wickedest Insults in Human History
Matthew Parris(Author)
Profile Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 10. November 2016
Book
Hardback
432 pages
978-1-78125-729-6 (ISBN)
Description
'He's 100% political herpes. Back in six months whatever you do. Or three days, like last time.' Camilla Long on Nigel Farage
'You're as ugly as a salad.' Bulgarian insult
'I'm going to beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.' Muhammed Ali
There's no pleasure like a perfectly-turned put-down (when it's directed at somebody else, of course) but Matthew Parris's Scorn is sharply different from the standard collections. Here are the funniest, sharpest, rudest and most devastating insults in history, from ancient Roman graffiti to the battlefields of Twitter.
Drawing on bile from such masters as Dorothy Parker, Elizabeth I, Donald Trump, Groucho Marx, Princess Anne, Winston Churchill, Nigel Farage, Mae West and Alastair Campbell - which form an exchange between voices down the ages - Scorn shows that abuse can be an art form. This collection includes extended literary invective as well as short verbal shin-kicks.
Encompassing literature, art, politics, showbiz, marriage, gender, nationality and religion, Matthew Parris's sublime collection is the perfect companion for the festive season, whether you're searching for the perfect elegant riposte, the rudest polite letter ever written, or a brutal verbal sledgehammer.
'You're as ugly as a salad.' Bulgarian insult
'I'm going to beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.' Muhammed Ali
There's no pleasure like a perfectly-turned put-down (when it's directed at somebody else, of course) but Matthew Parris's Scorn is sharply different from the standard collections. Here are the funniest, sharpest, rudest and most devastating insults in history, from ancient Roman graffiti to the battlefields of Twitter.
Drawing on bile from such masters as Dorothy Parker, Elizabeth I, Donald Trump, Groucho Marx, Princess Anne, Winston Churchill, Nigel Farage, Mae West and Alastair Campbell - which form an exchange between voices down the ages - Scorn shows that abuse can be an art form. This collection includes extended literary invective as well as short verbal shin-kicks.
Encompassing literature, art, politics, showbiz, marriage, gender, nationality and religion, Matthew Parris's sublime collection is the perfect companion for the festive season, whether you're searching for the perfect elegant riposte, the rudest polite letter ever written, or a brutal verbal sledgehammer.
Reviews / Votes
The ideal stocking-filler - miniature in size and big on malevolence -- Francis Wheen * Mail on Sunday * The clearest pen and the most fastidious sense of quality -- Alan Clark * The Times * A beautiful collection of insults down the ages. Parris has a feel for language, a sense of history and a wonderful wit -- Books of the Year * Scotland on Sunday * [A] glorious compendium of spite. * Daily Mail *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 204 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
560 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78125-729-6 (9781781257296)
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
11/2016
Profile Books Ltd
€15.49
Available for download
Person
Matthew Parris worked for the Foreign Office before serving as an MP. He now writes as a columnist for The Times and the Spectator, and in 2011 won the Best Columnist award at the British Press Awards. He is the author of several books, including his autobiography Chance Witness and the bestselling The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase.