Tony Thorne Book order

The comedy classic of life in National Service.

A wonderfully entertaining compendium of the hundred words and phrases that have over the last century become the cornerstones of modern spoken English, and have been used - sometimes deliberately, but often inadvertently - to stake out the common identity that unites the English, to define what makes us who we are.

A captivating guide to the national language, focusing on words that shape British identity while providing informative and entertaining insights.

Are you a bobo or a wombat? Have you ever been tempted to open the kimono or kick dead whales up the beach? Have you been touched by re-enchantment or threatened by infobia? If your answer to any of these questions is 'I'm not sure' or, indeed, 'What are you talking about?', then you definitely need a copy of "Shoot the Puppy". Amusing and informative, it guides the reader through the ever-growing heap of contemporary jargon from around the English-speaking world, showing where it comes from, what it means, and what it tells us about the contemporary world and our attitudes to it.

This is the story of Elisabeth Bathory, a 17th-century Transylvanian countess. She was tried as a vampire and became an inspiration for depraved murderers up to the present day. This account includes both the recorded truth and the legend that has grown up around her.

Presenting a portrait of the English language since the 1950s, this dictionary contains over 6000 examples of taboo words, swear words and euphemisms. It includes Australian, American, New Zealand and regional British slang.