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Drawn from folklore, history, mythology, philosophy, popular culture, religion, science, and technology, the alphabetically arranged entries include ancient gods and goddesses, biblical allusions, proverbial sayings, common phrases, fictional characters, geographical entities, and real people and events. A significant number of entries pertain to contemporary culture; for example, Generation X, Harry Potter, the People's Princess, rainbow coalition, and shock jock. Illustrative quotations and etymological details accompany many of the entries. The volume also features 50 boxed entries for special categories like "Last Words," "Muses," and "Plagues of Egypt." A generous network of cross-references facilitates use. In addition to an index to the boxed entries, the dictionary also provides lists of the entries that are reprinted from the Oxford Companion to American Literature and the Oxford Companion to English Literature.
Unfortunately, this work's sweeping scope results in a rather amorphous, if fascinatingly eclectic, compilation. The inclusion of a large number of fairly common words (e.g., degree, music, tobacco) seems unnecessary, and the rationale behind many of the biographical entries (e.g., for Doris Day, Stephen Jay Gould, John Soane) is not clear. Greater concentration on the "phrase and fable" aspects of the dictionary would have been preferable. For instance, numerous entries for proverbs simply identify the phrase as a proverbial saying and note the time period when it was first introduced without providing any further explanation or amplification. Many readers will probably need more assistance with sayings such as a creaking door hangs longest and dreams go by contraries.
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable includes about 1,500 more entries than the sixteenth edition of Brewer's, which contains 18,500 entries. However, Brewer's makes such extensive use of subentries that the numbers are misleading. A side-by-side comparison of Oxford and Brewer's reveals that although there is considerable overlap between the two, each has a wide variety of unique entries. For example, only Brewer's includes back burner, fight tooth and nail, Gulliver, never say die, and pull out all the stops, while only Oxford has entries for Archie Bunker, Babi Yar, Beanie baby, close but no cigar, and snail mail. In contrast to Oxford, Brewer's always provides explanations for proverbs, and in many other instances, Brewer's entries are fuller. Whereas the Oxford entry for horses lists 20 famous steeds and their riders, Brewer's entry identifies more than three times that number, and although both dictionaries explain the expression the full monty, only Brewer's mentions the film by that title.
Libraries on tight budgets that already have a recent edition of Brewer's will probably find that it is sufficient for their needs. However, libraries that can afford both dictionaries will welcome the rich diversity, scholarly authority, and additional information offered by The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. RBB
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. UNRIVALED: COMPREHENSIVE: KALEIDOSCOPIC: FASCINATING: RELIABLE: UP-TO-DATE: LUCID: RICH: NEW First Edition hardcover (Orig. 2001) w/ full no. line showing First Printing, NEW unclipped handsomely-illus. full-color mylar-protected jacket w/ sharp NEW edges & corners, NEW classic-gray library-durable fabric-over-boards cover w/ sharp NEW edges & corners, IMPECCABLE smooth-cut text-block exterior, IMMACULATE bright-white card-stock front & back end-papers, NEW sewn binding w/ tight signatures, PRISTINE interior printed w/ handsome clarity on EXCELLENT unblemished archival paper * 6.88" x 9.46" x 2.26", 1.76 kg, viii+1224 (1232) pp. * ABOUT THE BOOK: This MAJOR reference work provides a wealth of FASCINATING, RELIABLE, INFORMATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE & UP-TO-DATE background detail on common phrases & allusions, encompassing everything from "rebel without a cause" & "Marlboro Man" to "The Twelve Labors of Hercules". Drawing on Oxford's unrivaled bank of language & quotation on-line resources, this highly brows-able potpourri of allusive terms includes entries from a broad range of topics, including classical mythology, history, religion, folk customs, superstitions, science & technology, philosophy & popular culture. Unlike the major competing volume, this Dictionary contains more entries, w/ a wider range of reference & more LUCID explanations. Indeed, the 20,000 entries are rich w/ information, going beyond a simple identification to include colorful details, such as word origins & illustrative quotations. We learn, for instance, not only that "The Land of the Rising Sun" refers to Japan, but also that the phrase is a translation of Japanese Nippon (nichi "the sun" and pon "the source"). We also learn that "Leatherneck" refers to the leather lining inside the collar of a marine's uniform. There are special boxes for topics such as "Days of the Week" and "Last Words" (from Goethe's "More light" to Robert E. Lee's "Strike the tent"). The volume also features thousands of brief biographies, both real & fictional, from Old Mother Hubbard to Gypsy Rose Lee, & a thematic index for easy use, & there are numerous cross-references throughout the book. From "Barbie Doll" to "the Big Bang Theory," "Every Dog has His Day," and "Seven-League Boots," "The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" is a KALEIDOSCOPIC reference work on the thousands of colorful words & phrases we use every day. * ABOUT THE EDITOR: Elizabeth Knowles is editor of "The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations" & "The Oxford Dictionary of New Words" among other works. * SHIPPING: We custom wrap & label & securely package this superb book for FREE shipment within the United States via USPS Media MaiL (or via USPS Priority Mail for a nominal $10.00 charge) and at our posted rates to international destinations via USPS First Class Airmail (recommended) or USPS Priority Airmail. Seller Inventory # 010124
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