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The Wolf Gang (The He-Man Women Haters Club #5)
by Chris LynchThe members of the He-Man Women Haters Club attempt to restore it to its former glory when a rival club with female members emerges.
The Wolf in the Woods: A gripping dark comedy where nothing is quite as it seems
by Dan Brotzel&“A couple tries to rekindle their relationship through a romantic weekend getaway . . . but everything goes awry. . . . Dark and extremely funny.&” —Scots Magazine Struggling with their marriage, midlife empty-nesters Colleen and Andrew plan to spend a week in an isolated cottage—just the two of them. But with a landlord named Wolf who lives next door and won&’t leave them alone, the couple start to feel like there are three people in their relationship. Still, they are determined to make a valiant effort to overcome this marital crisis. However, with both of them engaging in secret communications with others, they&’re starting off on shaky ground. And with Wolf&’s behavior growing ever more unsettling, it&’s possible that leaving early would be a good idea. If only their car hadn&’t broken down . . . &“Full of cutting insights into the reality of long-term relationships but not at all short on heart-warming humour, The Wolf in the Woods is a sometimes sinister but tenderly told tale.&” —The Independent &“With characters that are all-too-relatable, The Wolf in the Woods skewers the lies we tell ourselves in order to keep going. I loved it.&” —Stephen May, author of Sell Us the Rope &“A master story-teller and observer of people and relationships. . . . Humour, suspense and unexpected twists. I could not put this book down.&” —Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo
The Wolf's Chicken Stew (Goodnight Ser.)
by Keiko KaszaThe wolf loves to eat more than anything in the world and one day he has a terrible craving for chicken stew. He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of scrumptious food for the chicken to eat. A big surprise is in store for the wolf when he finally visits Mrs. Chicken to collect his meal.
The Woman Who Is Always Tan And Has a Flat Stomach: And Other Annoying People
by Lauren Allison Lisa PerryYou know that overprotective PTA mom who needs to be resuscitated after she finds out you fed her son a hotdog? Or that couple who sends out the annual holiday letter about how their little Timmy came up with an alternative to fossil fuels while you're proud of simply replacing the lint catcher in your dryer once a year? You'll meet them again in Lauren Allison and Lisa Perry's laugh-out-loud compendium. Allison and Perry take on soccer moms, video dads, rabid gardeners, and grating couples in this collection of short, punchy essays. Less-than-perfect moms and dads everywhere will be sure to relate to the authors' portraits of the most annoying people around!
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (16) (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #16)
by Alexander McCall SmithTHE SIXTEENTH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE SERIESThe one with Mma Ramotswe's summer holiday . . . Mma Ramotswe is taking a break, leaving important tasks in the capable hands of Mma Makutsi, co-director of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. But Mma Ramotswe soon finds herself interfering in cases (secretly, or so she intends). While on 'holiday', she delves into the past of a man whose reputation is brought into question, she is called upon to rescue a small boy - and discovers Violet Sephotho's latest underhand business endeavour: the No. 1 Ladies' Secretarial College. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi hires a part-time science teacher as an assistant, and suspects that her authority is being undermined.Will Mma Ramotswe be caught out?
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (16) (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series #16)
by Alexander Mccall SmithIn this latest installment of the beloved and best-selling series, Mma Ramotswe must contend with her greatest challenge yet--a vacation! Business is slow at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, so slow in fact that for the first time in her estimable career Precious Ramotswe has reluctantly agreed to take a holiday. The promise of a week of uninterrupted peace is short-lived, however, when she meets a young boy named Samuel, a troublemaker who is himself in some trouble. Once she learns more about Samuel's sad story, Mma Ramotswe feels compelled to step in and help him find his way out of a bad situation. Despite this unexpected diversion, Mma Ramotswe still finds herself concerned about how the agency is faring in her absence. Her worries grow when she hears that Mma Makutsi is handling a new and rather complicated case. A well-respected Botswanan politician is up for a major public honor, and his reputation is now being called into question by his rivals. The man's daughter has contacted the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to investigate these troubling claims, but, as in so many cases, all is not as it seems. In the end, the investigation will affect everyone at the agency and will also serve as a reminder that ordinary human failings should be treated with a large helping of charity and compassion.From the Hardcover edition.
The Woman in Black
by Jenna RyanTHE MAN WAS HARD TO RESIST...Aidan Brodie's sensual stare could seduce a woman almost against her will. Samantha Giancarlo found herself to be no exception. Her reporter's instincts screamed at her to stay far away. But fate-in the form of a woman in black-had united them for a reason....An explosive interview with the stranger thrust Sam into the thick of a murder investigation. And when her search revealed truths that struck too close to home, she was forced to heed other, more womanly instincts.... She had no choice but to accept the safety of Aidan's strong embrace-and the protection he was only too eager to provide.
The Woman in the Middle: the perfect escapist read from the much-loved Sunday Times bestseller
by Milly JohnsonTHE NEW MILLY JOHNSON NOVEL, THE HAPPIEST EVER AFTER, IS OUT NOW! Shay Bastable is the woman in the middle. She is part of the sandwich generation – caring for her parents and her children, supporting her husband Bruce, holding them all together and caring for them as best she can. Then the arrival of a large orange skip on her mother&’s estate sets in motion a cataclysmic series of events which leads to the collapse of Shay&’s world. She is forced to put herself first for a change. But in order to move forward with her present, Shay needs to make sense of her past. And so she returns to the little village she grew up in, to uncover the truth about what happened to her when she was younger. And in doing so, she discovers that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to find the only way is up.Praise for The Woman in the Middle: 'An unputdownable tale of redemption and hard-won wisdom, this is a book that speaks for us all wherever we are in our lives. Milly Johnson always delivers an absolutely cracking read' Katie Fforde &‘The main characters are wise, loveable and so relatable. The humour is down to earth, the emotions are real and the storyline compelling. No one else writes quite like Milly and, with The Woman in the Middle, she has produced yet another winner&’&’ Jill Mansell 'Written from the heart ... honest, inspirational and great fun ... I loved it' Janie Millman 'This book is delicious. As moreish as a freshly made sandwich, full of your favourite filling. It's well worth the wait and joyous to bite into' Jo Thomas &‘Immensely relatable, tender and wise; Milly&’s magic sparkles from every page&’ Cathy Bramley &‘A complex family drama with a big heart, a light touch and lots of surprises&’ Veronica Henry 'The perfect pick-me-up that you won't be able to put down. I loved it' Matt DunnPraise for Milly Johnson: &‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS&’ Debbie Johnson 'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it&’s like finding a pot of gold' heat 'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman &‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon &‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre&’ Jill Mansell
The Woman in the Mirror
by Lynn TurnerWho's the Fairest of Them All?Thanks to the Witness Protection Program, for five years Jenna Kendrick, a.k.a. Kendra Jenner, faced a stranger in the mirror. Now, with the man she helped imprison about to be paroled, she was facing danger....Jenna had no choice: To save her life, she had to leave behind the man she loved-long, lean cowboy Adam Case-and become someone else again.But no hair dye or fake ID could prevent Adam from tracking her down...or demanding the truth. Who was she, really? The woman he loved, or the devil disguise?Before he could find out, Jenna was on the run again...with a killer right behind her.
The Woman, the Mink, the Cod and the Donkey: An affectionate parody
by Margerie SwashShe was looking for wine. Instead she found friendship. (Okay, it was with three animals, but she really hadn't drunk any wine at that point, promise.) --- Come, dearest reader, and dive into this book. It's warm and safe in here, which you will have guessed already because it's about a human and three animals. You might not be able to remember the animals or the order they fall within the title, but that doesn't matter. The pictures will remind you that the story is about a woman, a mink, a salmon and a donkey. COD, not salmon, sorry - it's a cod.The woman is embarking on an important journey. She does not know her destination, but she knows what she'll find when she gets there: an open pub. It has been a long time since she has been in one due to a strange, sad region of yester-year called 'Lockdown'. On her travels she bumps into the mink, the cod and a donkey who inexplicably resembles Donald Trump, and together they discuss their most valued life lessons, such as the value of travel insurance, and why it's always important to wear breathable pants.
The Women Who Ran Away: And the secrets that followed them . . .
by Sheila O'FlanaganSHOCKING SECRETS, LIFE-CHANGING TRUTHS AND ONE UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY . . .'One of my favourite authors' MARIAN KEYESThe stunning NUMBER ONE bestselling book by Sheila O'Flanagan, and your perfect summer read!Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by. Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go. Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it . . .COMING VERY SOON - SHEILA'S FABULOUS NEW NOVEL THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL. PRE-ORDER NOW!*LOSE YOURSELF THIS SUMMER IN THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER*Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan's irresistible novels:'Brilliantly written and with plot twists popping out like Prosecco corks' Woman and Home'An exciting love story with a deliciously romantic denouement' Sunday Express'A feel-good story told by a funny and down-to-earth heroine' Woman's Weekly 'If you're seeking an escape of your own, this sunny, evocative story is the perfect place to hide away' S Magazine
The Women Who Ran Away: And the secrets that followed them . . .
by Sheila O'FlanaganSHOCKING SECRETS, LIFE-CHANGING TRUTHS AND ONE UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY . . .'One of my favourite authors' MARIAN KEYESThe stunning NUMBER ONE bestselling brand new book by Sheila O'Flanagan, and your perfect spring read!Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by. Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go. Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it . . . *LOSE YOURSELF THIS SUMMER IN THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER*Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan's irresistible novels:'Brilliantly written and with plot twists popping out like Prosecco corks' Woman and Home'An exciting love story with a deliciously romantic denouement' Sunday Express'A feel-good story told by a funny and down-to-earth heroine' Woman's Weekly 'If you're seeking an escape of your own, this sunny, evocative story is the perfect place to hide away' S Magazine
The Women Who Ran Away: And the secrets that followed them . . .
by Sheila O'FlanaganIn Sheila O'Flanagan's engrossing new novel, two women form an unlikely friendship as they face up to shocking truths about the men they've loved - and start to make their own decisions about what to do next...'One of my favourite authors' Marian KeyesDeira is setting out on the holiday she'd planned with her long-term partner Gavin... only she's on her own. Gavin will not be amused when he finds out she's 'borrowed' his car, but since their brutal break-up Deira's not been acting rationally. Maybe a drive through beautiful France will help her see things differently...Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go.Thrown together by chance, Deira and Grace are soon motoring down the French highways, sharing intriguing stories of their pasts, as they each consider the future...(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
The Women Who Ran Away: Escape the lockdown blues with the number one bestseller!
by Sheila O'Flanagan Sheila O''FlanaganTHE NO. 1 IRISH BESTSELLER OF SUMMER 2020!'One of my favourite authors' Marian Keyes'If you've had to cancel your holiday plans this summer, don't worry - this beautiful new novel will transport you to sunnier climes...' - HEAT'S READ OF THE WEEKIn Sheila O'Flanagan's stunning new novel, two women face up to shocking truths about the men they've loved - and start to make their own decisions about what to do next...Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by. Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go. Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it . . . WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO RAN AWAY:'Didn't want it to end' *****'I would have given this 6 stars if I could''Within the first chapter, I had left reality and social distancing behind and joined two amazing women on a life-changing adventure' *****'A great summer read''Five stars all the way!' *****'Sheila O'Flanagan never disappoints' *****'Fantastic read!''Couldn't put this book down!'
The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop: A Novel
by Fannie FlaggBud Threadgoode grew up in the bustling little railroad town of Whistle Stop with his mother, Ruth, church-going and proper, and his Aunt Idgie, the fun-loving hell-raiser. Together they ran the town’s popular Whistle Stop Cafe, known far and wide for its fun and famous fried green tomatoes. And as Bud often said of his childhood to his daughter Ruthie, “How lucky can you get?” <p><p> But sadly, as the railroad yards shut down and Whistle Stop became a ghost town, nothing was left but boarded-up buildings and memories of a happier time. <p> Then one day, Bud decides to take one last trip, just to see what has become of his beloved Whistle Stop. In so doing, he discovers new friends, as well as surprises about Idgie’s life, about Ninny Threadgoode and other beloved Fannie Flagg characters, and about the town itself. He also sets off a series of events, both touching and inspiring, which change his life and the lives of his daughter and many others. Could these events all be just coincidences? Or something else? And can you really go home again? <p> <b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Wonder Bread Summer: A Novel
by Jessica Anya Blau“Picaresque, properly funny, unpredictable and altogether irrepressible.” —Nick Hornby, The BelieverJessica Anya Blau, author of The Summer of Naked Swim Parties and Mary Jane, delivers a darkly hilarious, heartbreaking coming-of-age novel with The Wonder Bread Summer.In The Wonder Bread Summer, loosely based on Alice in Wonderland, 20-year-old Allie Dodgson has adventures that rival those Alice had down the rabbit hole. Or those of Weeds’ Nancy Botwin.Allison is working at a dress shop to help pay for college. The dress shop turns out to be a front for drug dealers. And Allison ends up on the run—with a Wonder Bread bag full of cocaine.With a hit man after her, Allison wants the help of her parents. But there’s a problem: Her mom took off when Allison was eight; her dad moves so often Allison that doesn’t even have his phone number….Set in 1980s California, The Wonder Bread Summer is a wickedly funny and fresh caper that’s sure to please fans of Christopher Moore, Carl Hiaasen, and Marcy Dermansky.
The Wonder Trail: True Stories from Los Angeles to the End of the World
by Steve HelySteve Hely, writer for The Office and American Dad!, and recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, presents a travel book about his journey through Central and South America. Part travel book, part pop history, part comic memoir, Hely's writing will make readers want to reach for their backpack and hiking boots. The Wonder Trail is the story of a trip from Los Angeles to the bottom of South America, presented in 102 short chapters. From Mexico City to Oaxaca; into ancient Mayan ruins; the jungles, coffee plantations, and remote beaches of Central America; across the Panama Canal; by sea to Colombia; to the wild Easter celebration of Popayán; to the Amazon rainforest; the Inca sites of Cuzco and Machu Picchu; to the Galápagos Islands; the Atacama Desert of Chile; and down to wind-worn Patagonia at the bottom of the Western Hemisphere; Steve traveled collecting stories, adventures, oddities, marvels, bits of history and biography, tales of weirdos, fun facts, and anything else interesting or illuminating. Steve's plan was to discover the unusual, wonderful, and absurd in Central and South America, to seek and find the incredible, delightful people and experiences that came his way. And the book that resulted is just as fun. A blend of travel writing, history, and comic memoir, The Wonder Trail will inspire, inform, and delight.From the Hardcover edition.
The Wonder of Whiffling: And Other Extraordinary Words In The English Language
by Adam Jacot de BoinodThe Wonder of Whiffling is a hugely enjoyable, surprising and rewarding tour of English around the globe (with fine coinages from our English-speaking cousins across the pond, Down Under and elsewhere).Discover all sorts of words you've always wished existed but never knew, such as fornale, to spend one's money before it has been earned; cagg, a solemn vow or resolution not to get drunk for a certain time; and petrichor, the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell. Delving passionately into the English language, Adam Jacot de Boinod also discovers why it is you wouldn't want to have dinner with a vice admiral of the narrow seas, why Jacobites toasted the little gentleman in black velvet, and why a Nottingham Goodnight is better than one from anywhere else.
The Wonderful O (Penguin Classics)
by James Thurber Marc Simont Ransom RiggsGreat American humorist James Thurber’s beloved, madcap, and eerily timely fairy tale about an island society robbed of the wonders of the letter O—in a stunning Deluxe Edition featuring flaps, deckle-edged paper, and the original, full-color illustrations Littlejack has a map that indicates the existence of a treasure on a far and lonely island, and Black has a ship to get there. So the two bad men team up and sail off on Black’s vessel, the Aeiu. The name, Black explains, is all the vowels except for O—which he hates since his mother got wedged in a porthole: They couldn’t pull her in, so they had to push her out. Black and Littlejack arrive at the port and demand the treasure. No one knows anything about it, so they have their henchmen ransack the place—to no avail. But Black has a better idea: He will take over the island and purge it of O. (“I'll issue an edict!”) The harsh limits of a life sans O (where shoe is she and woe is we) and how finally with a little luck and lots of pluck the islanders shake off their overbearing interlopers and discover the true treasure for themselves (Oh yes—and get back their O’s)—these are only some of the surprises that await readers of James Thurber’s timelessly zany fairy tale about two louts who try to lock up the language—and lose. It is a tour de force of wordplay that will delight fans of Lewis Carroll, Dr. Seuss, Edward Lear, and Roald Dahl, and a timely reminder of how people can band together in the name of freedom to overthrow a tyrant. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
by Roald DahlSeven superb short stories from the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG! The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a Netflix Original film!Meet the boy who can talk to animals and the man who can see with his eyes closed. And find out about the treasure buried deep underground. A clever mix of fact and fiction, this collection also includes how master storyteller Roald Dahl became a writer. With Roald Dahl, you can never be sure where reality ends and fantasy begins. "All the tales are entrancing inventions." —Publishers Weekly
The Wonderful Thing About Hiccups
by Cece MengIt starts with a case of hiccups during story time at the library. And that leads to an outrageous and hilarious adventure involving a hippo, a little sister, an overturned ice cream cart, a librarian who’s afraid of heights, and a stack of library books that must be returned-on time and in good condition-if the narrator is going to get her very own library card. And nothing could be more wonderful than that! Brightly colored, energetic illustrations make the most of the slapstick humor in this rollicking readaloud.
The Wonders: A Novel
by Paddy O'ReillyFrom the author of the "funny, irreverent, and highly entertaining" (Liane Moriarty, author of The Husband's Secret) Fine Color of Rust comes a brilliant new novel about a misfit trio who become instant international reality stars, probing the nature of celebrity, disability, and the value of human life.Perhaps every human being was a freak. Hadn't he read somewhere that every person has at least a handful of damaged genes? That all humans embody a myriad of nature's mistakes? Meet Leon (stage name: Clockwork Man), a nervous, introverted thirty-year-old man with a brass heart; Kathryn (stage name: Lady Lamb), a brash, sexy woman covered almost entirely with black, tightly furled wool; and Christos (stage name: Seraphiel), a vain performance artist who plays a winged god with the help of ceramic implants inserted between his shoulder blades. These are The Wonders, three extraordinary people whose medical treatments have tested the limits of the human body. When they are brought together by a canny entrepreneur, their glamorous, genre-defying, twenty-first-century circus act becomes a global sensation. But what makes them objects of fascination also places them in danger. With warmth, humor, and astonishing insight, Paddy O'Reilly has written a wonderful novel that will appeal to fans of Sara Gruen's Ape House, Karen Joy Fowler's We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, and Teddy Wayne's The Love Song of Jonny Valentine--or anyone who's ever questioned the nature of fame, our kinship with the animal kingdom, and the delicate balancing act of life and death.
The Wonky Donkey (Wonky Donkey And Friends Ser.)
by Craig SmithKids will love this cumulative and hysterical read-aloud that features a free downloadable song!"I was walking down the road and I saw...a donkey,Hee Haw!And he only had three legs!He was a wonky donkey."Children will be in fits of laughter with this perfect read-aloud tale of an endearing donkey. By the book's final page, readers end up with a spunky, hanky-panky, cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky-tonky, winky wonky, donkey!
The Woolly Hat Knitting Club
by Poppy DolanIn this &“wonderfully warm . . . laugh-out-loud funny&” romantic comedy, a London career woman finds love and happiness at her family&’s village knitting shop (Cressida McLaughlin, author of the Cornish Cream Tea series). When Dee Blackthorn&’s brother breaks both wrists, he&’s in need of a helping hand—or two—with the knitting shop he owns. Luckily, Dee has all the time in the world to help out—she&’s just been unceremoniously fired from her demanding job amidst scandalous office rumors she&’s certain her hot-shot nemesis, Ben, is behind . . . When Dee bumps into Becky, an old friend who is a new mum to a premature baby, Dee gets the brilliant idea to use her new role at her brother&’s shop to enlist the knitting community to make tiny woolly hats to keep the little one warm. But when Dee&’s good intentions backfire, she risks losing her friends and family. On top of that, Ben turns up, denying involvement in Dee&’s sacking. It seems her office rival might just be the hero she needs right about now. &“The book made me want to take up knitting and snuggle down with my loved ones.&” —Rosie Blake, author of The Hygge Holiday &“Relatable and vivid characters. . . . Clever, heartfelt, witty, romantic.&” —Kirsty Greenwood, author of Big Sexy Love &“Simply unputdownable.&” —Claudia Carroll, author of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? &“The feel-good book of the year.&” —Vanessa Greene, author of The Vintage Teacup Club
The Word Detective: A Life in Words: From Serendipity to Selfie
by John SimpsonLanguage is always changing. No one knows where it is going but the best way to future-cast is to look at the past. John Simpson animates for us a tradition of researching and editing, showing us both the technical lexicography needed to understand a word, and the careful poetry needed to construct its definition. He challenges both the idea that dictionaries are definitive, and the notion that language is falling apart. With a sense of humour, an ability to laugh at bureaucracy and an inclination to question the status quo, John Simpson gives life to the colourful characters at the OED and to the English language itself. He splices his stories with entertaining and erudite diversions into the history and origin of words such as 'kangaroo', 'hot-dog' , 'pommie', 'bicycle' , not ignoring those swearwords often classed as 'Anglo-Saxon' ! The book will speak to anyone who uses a dictionary, 'word people' , history lovers, students and parents.