Author:Geoffrey Hughes
Tracing the history of swearing from ancient Anglo-Saxon traditions and those of the Middle Ages, through Shakespeare, the Enlightenment and the Victorians, to the Lady Chatterley trial and various current trends, Geoffrey Hughes explores a fascinating, little discussed yet irrespressible part of our linguistic heritage. This second edition contains a Postscript updating various contemporary developments, such as the growth of Political Correctness.
'I was enthralled by Guy Deutscher's The Unfolding of Language, a history of how words came to take the forms they do, and therefore a history of the forms of the human mind.'
—— A.S. Byatt in the Guardian 'Books of the YearFascinating... Any curious reader...will find something worth knowing in The Unfolding of Language'
—— Boston GlobeNo one writes about language as clearly as Steven Pinker, and this is his best book yet
—— Financial TimesImmensely readable and stimulating. Pinker is a master at making complex ideas palatable
—— IndependentAwesome ... Pinker writes lucidly and elegantly, and leavens the text with scores of perfectly judged anecdotes, jokes, cartoons and illustrations
—— Daily MailGreat editor: great teacher of editors
—— Peter Stothard, editor of the Times Literary SupplementHarry Evans is the journalist we all wanted to be. He could write, sub, design, re-write, think - everything short of standing on the streets and selling the paper himself. Essential English has for generations been the bible of any aspiring Harry Evans. It is as fresh today as it was when it was first published nearly thirty years ago
—— Alan Rusbridger, Editor-in-Chief, GuardianWelcome back to the standard and brilliant text on written English for journalism. Good writing is good writing, and Harold Evans is a good writer, when all around are letting standards slip. Essential English should be essential reading for all journalism students, and all journalists who seek to improve their writing
—— Peter Cole, Professor of Journalism, University of Central Lancashire