Author:Lance Parkin,Mark Jones
Inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost and now a major motion picture, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has captured the imagination of children, adults and the critics alike. Now you can understand the symbols of the alethiometer, revisit the stories and chart the history of Lyra's world in this invaluable companion to the unforgettable novels.
With an enlightening biography of Philip Pullman, outlines and analyses of the novels, audio books, stage play and forthcoming movie, a dictionary of key words from Armoured Bear to Zombi, and a history of Lyra's world, this volume gives crucial further information to all admirers of the timeless books.
The Scots tongue, like most of the world's minority languages, is under pressure and Billy Kay in this excellent and cogent survey draws together the strands of our concern
—— Daily ExpressKay is the best writer on his own language I have read since Burchfield on English; his book should be put in schools, for it is capably seditious
—— The HeraldMoving, delightful, even inspiring
—— Edinburgh ReviewIt is not the kind of dry academic tome so cherished by linguistic nitpickers, but a bright, radical examination of the language which is at the heart of our existence
—— Aberdeen Press and JournalA fresh and invigorating overview of a fascinating subject
—— Stirling ObserverWell written . . . provocative
—— The New York TimesAttuned to pop culture as well as to scholarship, Abley proves a deft social anthropologist
—— The Daily Telegraph