The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage - Hardcover

Amis, Kingsley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312186010 ISBN 13: 9780312186012

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 1998

Synopsis

Written by one of the most important and controversial icons in British post-war fiction, this study represents the late author's last, and often humorous word, on the state of the English language as we close the twentieth century. 15,000 first printing.

About this title

Review

‘Learned, robust, aggressive, extremely funny... Magnificent’
Sebastian Faulks, New Statesman

‘Always a delight. Consistently, enormously enjoyable’
Jonathon Green, Punch

‘Fabulously well written... marvellous’
Candia McWilliam, Independent on Sunday

From the Back Cover

Sir Kingsley Amis occupied a unique position in the world of English letters. As well as being one of the most successful and influential novelists since the war, he was a poet, critic and prolific anthologiser. In all his work, and throughout his life, the use and abuse of the English language was one of his principal concerns. His last book, 'The King's English', entertainingly, authoritatively and concisely conveys his love and knowledge of the subject. Here can be found all those linguistic pitfalls ('crescendo', 'enormity', 'disinterested') which lie in wait for the ignorant or the careless. And if you've ever wondered whether it's acceptable to start a sentence with 'and', or what you risk revealing about yourself by your pronunciation of 'liqueur', or whether or not it's acceptable to cross your sevens in the French style, Amis has the answer. Arranged alphabetically, by turns reflective, acerbic, combative and controversial, 'The King's English' will find a place on the shelves of anyone who cares about the English language and the way in which it is used.

‘A classic in the making... there may be more comprehensive guides to English usage but there will never be a more entertaining one’
KEITH WATERHOUSE, 'Daily Mail'

‘Full of good sense, enlivened by wit... Nobody who reads it with attention will fail to benefit’
ALLAN MASSIE, 'Daily Telegraph'

‘Fabulously well written... marvellous’
CANDIA McWILLIAM, 'Independent on Sunday'

‘Engaging and choleric... savage and always enjoyable’
PHILIP HOWARD, 'The Times'

‘A delight... consistently, enormously enjoyable’
JONATHON GREEN, 'Punch'

Edition details

• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312186010
• ISBN 13: 9780312186012
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 270