Scorn
The Wickedest Insults in Human History
Published on 2. November 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-1-78125-730-2 (ISBN)
Description
'He's 100% political herpes. Back in six months whatever you do'
Camilla Long on Nigel Farage
'It's not enough to succeed. Friends must fail'
Gore Vidal
Nothing cuts deeper, or provides greater pleasure, than the perfect put-down.
When it's directed at someone else.
Matthew Parris's sublime collection of the rudest, funniest shin-kicks and barbs in human history, spanning ancient Roman graffiti to social media spats, gleefully cherry-picks the finest work of such masters of scorn as Dorothy Parker, Elizabeth I and A.A. Gill. Together, they offer conclusive proof that verbal abuse can, at its finest, be an exquisite art form.
'He has not a single redeeming defect'
Benjamin Disraeli on William Ewart Gladstone
'The little shit Parris, with his perma-smirk'
Alastair Campbell, on the editor of this book
Camilla Long on Nigel Farage
'It's not enough to succeed. Friends must fail'
Gore Vidal
Nothing cuts deeper, or provides greater pleasure, than the perfect put-down.
When it's directed at someone else.
Matthew Parris's sublime collection of the rudest, funniest shin-kicks and barbs in human history, spanning ancient Roman graffiti to social media spats, gleefully cherry-picks the finest work of such masters of scorn as Dorothy Parker, Elizabeth I and A.A. Gill. Together, they offer conclusive proof that verbal abuse can, at its finest, be an exquisite art form.
'He has not a single redeeming defect'
Benjamin Disraeli on William Ewart Gladstone
'The little shit Parris, with his perma-smirk'
Alastair Campbell, on the editor of this book
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
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78125-730-2 (9781781257302)
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.