The Secret Life of Words by Henry Hitchings
Journey into the history of English and discover how words have been absorbed into our language to make it what it is today.
'Hitchings's excavations are a treatHe 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 *
'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *
'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 *
'The author's deliverings reveal much that intrigues about our history and about our social environment' * This England *
'Hitchings's excavations 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 *
'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *
'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 *
'[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 *
'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *
'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 *
'The author's deliverings reveal much that intrigues about our history and about our social environment' * This England *
'Hitchings's excavations 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 *
'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *
'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 *
Henry Hitchings was born in 1974. Educated at the universities of Oxford and London, he wrote his doctoral thesis on Samuel Johnson; his book, Dr Johnson's Dictionary, was published by John Murray in 2005. Henry Hitchings has also contributed to many newspapers and magazines.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780719564550 |
| ISBN 10 | 0719564557 |
| Title | The Secret Life of Words |
| Author | Henry Hitchings |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | John Murray Press |
| Year published | 2009-04-02 |
| Number of pages | 448 |
| Prizes | Winner of Somerset Maugham Award 2009, Winner of John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize 2008 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |