The Cassell dictionary of anecdotes / [compiled by] Nigel Rees

Rees, Nigel (1944-)

ISBN 10: 0304351954 / ISBN 13: 9780304351954

Published by London New York : Cassell ; Distributed in the U.S. by Sterling Pub, 1999

About this Item

Near fine paperback copy, edges slightly dust-dulled. Remains well-preserved overall. Physical description; x, 307 pages ; 24 cm. Subjects; Anecdotes Dictionaries. Quotations, English Dictionaries. 3 Kg.

Seller Inventory # 458579

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Cassell dictionary of anecdotes / [compiled by] Nigel Rees
• Publisher: London New York : Cassell ; Distributed in the U.S. by Sterling Pub
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0304351954
• ISBN 13: 9780304351954
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Weight: 3 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

"...features over 1000 stories arranged alphabetically under 400 subject headings. The index provides further subject access, particularly to the people (usually famous) referred to in the stories...Rees...uses his years of lexicological experience to good effect, augmenting his pithy, humorous renditions of the stories with footnotes examining versions attributed to other people."--Library Journal.

Reviews

Cassell here offers two serviceable additions to the speaker's reference shelf. The Cassell Dictionary of Anecdotes features over 1000 stories arranged alphabetically under 400 subject headings. The index provides further subject access, particularly to the people (usually famous) referred to in the stories, but does not include the sources of the anecdotes. Rees (Cassell Dictionary of Humorous Quotations) uses his years of lexicological experience to good effect, augmenting his pithy, humorous renditions of the stories with footnotes examining versions attributed to other people. While Americans and other nationalities are represented, British personalities do predominate. The Cassell Dictionary of Regrettable Quotations shares the British slant, but Milsted (Xenophile's Guide to the English) does not have Rees's ear for phrasing. He describes this work as "the thinking person's bathroom book," and many of the rash predictions and bald-faced lies he has collected have flat and awkward wording that would not work well with a listening audience. Milsted has arranged over 1500 entries under 250 subject headings with ample See also references. The index lists the sources and subjects (again, usually famous people) of the quotations. A livelier alternative to Milsted's book is the series by Ross and Kathryn Petras beginning with The 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said (Main Street, 1993).DVivian Reed, Long Beach P.L., CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.