The Word Circus: a Letter-Perfect Book (Lighter Side of Language Series) - Hardcover

Lederer, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0877793549 ISBN 13: 9780877793540

Publisher: Merriam Webster,U.S., 1998

Synopsis

"A fun and frolicking book of wordplay. Hundreds of acrostics, anagrams, puns, riddles, and spoonerisms. Features a full chapter of skill-testing word games."

About this title

From the Author

The biggest and brightest arrow in my language quiver.
Quite honestly, THE WORD CIRCUS is the one landmark book I have to bequeath to this planet -- the biggest and brightest arrow in my language quiver. The foundation of the book is that "Words are works of art." My goal is to make the alphabet dance for you with anagrams, palindromes, and a circus tent full of other acts of letter play. Merriam-Webster has done a terrific job in producing a handsome hardcover book, and 386 color illustrations by my brilliant artist, Dave Morice, add to the look and help lift the text. Using 77 poems and 14 circus acts -- each a metaphor for a type of letter dance -- I attempt here to create a celebration of letter play that will be accessible to a broad range of readers.

Perhaps the "After Word" best sums up my aspirations for this circus of words:

Nothing now to mark the spot/ But a littered, vacant lot --/ Sawdust in a heap and where/ The center ring stood, grass worn bare./

But remains the alphabet,/ Ready to leap and pirouette./ May the spangled letters soar/ In your head forevermore.

Writing THE WORD CIRCUS has been the most joyful experience of my life. I hope you'll lose yourself in the text, as I did for three years. May all your days be circus days!

Synopsis

A book of wordplay offers hundreds of acrostics, anagrams, puns, riddles, spoonerisms, and skill-testing word games.

Edition details

• Publisher: Merriam Webster,U.S.
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0877793549
• ISBN 13: 9780877793540
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 295