'Hitching's excavation are a treat. He presents the best gleanings of academia in a winning, conversational style. Almost every spadeful yields an etymological nugget ... elegantly and entertainingly written' -- Financial Times '[It] disentangles an intriguing narrative from a mass of information, revealing the distinct cultural climates that produced certain words and bearing witness to an increasing global language, always morphing into something new' -- Guardian 'A fascinating exploration of the rich borrowings, exchanges and couplings of the language' -- Ben Macintyre, The Times 'Hitchings delves into words, resurfacing with their surprising origins' -- The Times 'It is a book that brings etymology fizzingly alive ... it teems with vivid, quirky evidence of the way the English vocabulary bears continuing witness to our cultural history' -- Sunday Times 'His book is a patient, thorough and highly entertaining excavation' -- Sunday Times 'Hitchings's examples cover the full span of English' -- Observer 'Expert analysis ... this is a wonderfully well-organised and entertaining book, which thoroughly deserved to win last year's John Llewellyn Rhys Prize' -- Daily Mail 'Hitchings has teased out the stories lurking behind the language to provide a most satisfying whole' -- Publishing News 'Much more than a collage of etymological trivia, this is a dense and thorough excavation of the stories that lie behind the words we say' -- Metro 'Quite how Hitchings has managed to wrestle this dizzying mountain of dense information into such an elegant narrative ... is a feat almost as admirable as that of the great lexicographer. His book is painstakingly detailed, closely argued and suffused with a contagious enthusiasm for the secrets woven into the fabric of our words -- Daily Telegraph 'Hitchings steps deftly round the traps and the stereotypes, while throwing up great clouds of delicious trivia' -- Peter Robins, Daily Telegraph 'This clever, persuasive, delightful book is studded with entertaining observations' -- Independent on Sunday 'Wearing his learning lightly, Hitchings has produced an impressive successor to his acclaimed account of Johnson's dictionary' -- Independent 'A wonderfully detailed history of the English language' -- Good Book Guide 'A thrilling narrative history of our uniquely beautiful and thriving language' -- Catholic Herald 'Comprehensive guide ... with countless revelations and world-related trivia, this is the often surprising story of the words we take for granted' -- Heritage 'This is a hugely informative and non-academic account' -- Sunday Tribune 'Fascinating subject ... a detailed, comprehensive study ...there are lots of surprises, and the author's enthusiasm is infectious. An entertaining and informative read' -- Shropshire Star 'Much more interesting than a simple dictionary of etymology' -- Writing Magazine 'Marvellous, scholarly and beautifully written, quite the best of its kind I have read in years ... wise and witty' -- Oldie 'Wonderfully detailed history ... a rich and rewarding read' -- Good Book Guide
