An illumination of writing's mysteries through examining the words and ideas that were edited out of renowned novels, poems, and plays. Imagine looking over your favorite author's shoulder and witnessing the moment they begin writing the opening cha...

In this ingenious and diverse collection of 366 stories, events and facts about language, David Crystal presents a selection of insights from literary and linguistic writers, poets and global institutions, together with the weird and wonderful creati...

The less it is part of everyday life, the more the appeal of handwriting grows. This wonderful selection of treasures from the Bodleian Library introduces remarkable individuals through documents written by their own hands. From the second century BC...

Ever needed tips on how to sleep next to a snoring spouse? How to convalesce in style? Or the etiquette of staying in a haunted house? This humorous book was originally published in the 1930s as an amusing guide for married couples. Poking fun at wiv...

Words of wisdom and advice for leading a good life have long been part of society, handed down from one generation to the next. Plenty of these wise observations originated from the philosophers of Ancient Greece and Rome, and went on to circulate wi...

What makes a perfect husband? In this tongue-in-cheek guide, illustrated by Heath Robinson's inimitable cartoons and contraptions, there are many charmingly old-fashioned tips for how to succeed in almost all aspects of married life. First published...

"Without a revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement". Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and founder of the USSR, was profoundly aware of the power of words. As a zealous orator and prolific writer, he used...

Ever wondered how to make a garden attractive in December? Or what to do with that corner by the dustbin? Answers to these questions can be found in this compact and charming book of tips for the green-fingered, accompanied by Heath Robinson's highly...

W. Heath Robinson is best known for his hilarious drawings of outlandish contraptions, though his work ranged across a wide variety of topics covering many aspects of British life. Collections of his drawings became so popular as to transform Heath R...

Who said "I should have drunk more champagne"? Did Nelson really utter "Kiss me Hardy" from his deathbed? Which statesman was, at the end, "bored with it all"? Which king begged, "Let not poor Nelly starve..." An extraordinary number of deathbed say...