Overview

"The bawdy English language has never been overly concerned with purity, and this promiscuous proclivity has contributed to many alluring word histories. Richler combines his etymological talents along with those of the muck-raking journalist to expose the often times louche baggage that words have accumulated throughout the centuries. When reading Strange Bedfellows: The Private Lives of Words expect to learn the unexpected truth about the past lives of many words. You will discover why gossiping in church is etymologically proper and that words such as ""avocado"" and ""porcelain"" have past associations with some of the nether regions of the body that have been conveniently forgotten by the lovers of fruit and fine china. As Richler reveals, the English language has slept around for centuries and in the process has been seduced by many foreign influences. Composed of short chapters with each containing ten words from specific fields, Strange Bedfellows will surprise and delight the reader."

Full Product Details

9781553801009

Table of Contents

Reviews

a€œan etymological delight.a€ a€ Concordia University Magazine; a€œone of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . Ita€(TM)s a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. Ita€(TM)s also often amusing, and I find myself stilla€ weeks after getting the booka€ dipping into it.a€ a€ The Commentary, Interview; a€œWord nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text.a€ a€ Telegraph-Journal

Oan etymological delight.O N Concordia University Magazine; Oone of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . ItOs a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. ItOs also often amusing, and I find myself stillNweeks after getting the bookNdipping into it.O N The Commentary, Interview; OWord nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text.O N Telegraph-Journal oan etymological delight.o n Concordia University Magazine; oone of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . Itos a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. Itos also often amusing, and I find myself stillnweeks after getting the bookndipping into it.o n The Commentary, Interview; oWord nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text.o n Telegraph-Journal an etymological delight. -- Concordia University Magazine; one of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . It's a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. It's also often amusing, and I find myself still--weeks after getting the book--dipping into it. -- The Commentary, Interview; Word nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text. -- Telegraph-Journal a an etymological delight.a a Concordia University Magazine; a one of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . Ita (TM)s a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. Ita (TM)s also often amusing, and I find myself stilla weeks after getting the booka dipping into it.a a The Commentary, Interview; a Word nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text.a a Telegraph-Journal an etymological delight. Concordia University Magazine; one of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . It 's a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. It 's also often amusing, and I find myself still weeks after getting the book dipping into it. The Commentary, Interview; Word nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text. Telegraph-Journal

an etymological delight. Concordia University Magazine; one of the more delightful books to hit my desk this season. . . . It 's a fascinating, informative, and engrossing book on a great number of words, their origin, original meaning, and for some of them, where the English language has stolen them from. It 's also often amusing, and I find myself still weeks after getting the book dipping into it. The Commentary, Interview; Word nerds rejoice! . . . Howard Richler delivers another riotously funny and informative text. Telegraph-Journal

Author Information

Howard Richler is a life-time logophile who has served as a language columnist for several newspapers and magazines. He is presently working on three new books about language: an analysis of English language wit; a col-lection of word puzzles; and a book for children exploring the magic of word origins. He makes his home in Montreal.

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