The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations

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Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, and many others have shaped our century's most memorable quotations. A.J. Augarde compiles 6,000 notable quotes from novels, plays, poems, speeches, films, and more in this comprehensive collection. Readers will encounter history-making lines, from Churchill's stirring wartime speeches to Neville Chamberlain's infamous "Peace for our time." The lighter side features wits like Woody Allen, Fran Lebowitz, and Dorothy Parker, showcasing humor and insight. Generous excerpts from literature include works by Hemingway, Joyce, and the poetry of Auden, Eliot, and Pound, alongside lyrics from Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Famous titles and even cartoon captions enrich the collection, while wisdom shines through quotes such as Count Ciano's "Victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan." The Dictionary is organized alphabetically by author, with attributions for easy reference, and an index for tracing quotes by keywords, making it user-friendly for both casual browsing and in-depth research. Whether seeking the origin of "a walk on the wild side" or enjoying clever remarks, this collection offers a unique perspective on the twentieth century through its most memorable expressions.