The Bride of Anguished English: A Bonanza of Bloopers, Blunders, Botches, and Boo-Boos - Hardcover

Lederer, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 031226223X ISBN 13: 9780312262235

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2000

Synopsis

For years wordsmith and punster Richard Lederer has charmed and delighted fans with his bestselling "Anguished English" series. In his funniest book yet, readers will again cherish the author's latest chronicle of the goofs and gaffes and fluffs and flubs of our anguished language. And the best part? Everything in here actually occurred! Nothing has been made up!

Bloopers from foreign restaurants include:
* "Our wines leave you nothing to hope for."
* "As for the tripe served here, you will be singing its praises to your grandchildren on your deathbed."

Excerpts from students' twisted history papers include:
* "World War I made the people so sad that it brought on the Great Depression."
* "America was founded by four fathers. Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Decoration of Independence, which says that all men are cremated equal and are well endowed by their creator."

Hilarious illustrations by Jim McLean make The Bride of Anguished English the perfect book for anyone who loves English with all its blunders and bloopers and quips and quirks.

About this title

Review:

Pun lovers and grammarians rarely tire of the humor found in everyday use and misuse of the English language, and Richard Lederer is happy to provide us with a regular supply of such witticisms. An addition to his "Anguished English" series, The Bride of Anguished English is filled with hilarious language-related goofs. Each chapter focuses on a particular group of mishaps, including classic malapropisms, headlines, menus, kids' homework, poor interpretations of lyrics, and politicians' doublespeak.

This is not a good book to read in one sitting; each page is funny enough that you'll wind up with tears and a stomachache if you try to plow through it all at once. From "he's got one of those sight-seeing dogs" to "I don't want to cast asparagus at my opponents," the malapropisms are delightful, and the chapter even includes a short history of Mrs. Malaprop's character, and why she was found to be so entertaining by 18th-century theatergoers. The chapter on song lyrics introduces the word "modegreen," and provides some hilarious examples; would Bowie recognize his classic "Major Tom" by the singing of "clown control to Mao Zedong"? Christmas songs may never be the same, if we start singing them the way kids hear them--although "we three kings of porridge and tar" may well be the hit of the holidays. Headlines like "New Vaccine May Contain Rabbis" and "Uneasy Clam Settles Over Michigan" are not only funny, but reading them will help train your eye to seek out such boo-boos in your own local paper. Perfect for teachers, editors, nitpickers, and the annoying punster who shares your office, this absurd and entertaining book is sure to delight. --Jill Lightner

About the Author:

Richard Lederer is the author of more than two dozen books on language and literature, including the bestselling "Anguished English" series, and most recently, Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay. He speaks throughout the country and is a language commentator on National Public Radio. He co-hosts the weekly show "A Way with Words" on KPBS in San Diego, California, where he lives with his wife Simone van Egeren.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 031226223X
• ISBN 13: 9780312262235
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224