The King's English (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Review
A terrific book ... learned, robust, aggressive, extremely funny (Sebastian Faulks )
Product Description
The King's English is Kingsley Amis's authoritative and witty guide to the use and abuse of the English language. A scourge of illiteracy and a thorn in the side of pretension, Amis provides indispensable advice about the linguistic blunders and barbarities that lie in wait for us, from danglers, four-letter words to jargon and even Welsh rarebit. If you have ever wondered whether it's acceptable to start a sentence with 'and', to boldly split an infinitive, or to cross your sevens in the French style, Amis has the answer - or a trenchant opinion. By turns reflective, acerbic and provocative, The King's English is for anyone who cares about how the English language is used.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book firstly relies on the reader being first pernickity about the use of language, second grouchy and third susceptible to Amis' (by this stage familiarly comic) right-wing act. Although there is little doubt that Amis held his political views firmly, he also revelled in the avuncular role of the curmudgeon, and it is in this light that the book should be viewed. Published posthumously, The King's English (and an entry on the pun is included) sets out Amis' manifesto on the usage of the language. Any reading of his fiction will have shown preoccupation with the correct use of language. As befits an author so deft at writing comically realistic dialogue, this often appears in observations about the spoken word (for example, see the following exchange from Jake's Thing, between Jake and his new doctor:
'Now your trouble is that your libido [lib-eedo] has declined.'
'My what?' asked Jake, though he had understood all right.
'Your libido, your sexual drive.'
'I'm sorry, I'd be inclined to pronounce it lib-ighdo, on the basis that we're talking English, not Italian or Spanish, but I suppose it'll make for simplicity if I go along with you. So, yes, my lib-eedo has declined.'
The book lists Kingsley's musings in alphabetical order. He distinguishes between those abusers of the language he describes with the popular expletives for one who engages in onanism, and a person of uncertain parentage, and he details his shibboleths by which to judge the standard of a person's English. (Incidentally, Microsoft Word wants to change the word 'onanism', which it underlines in red, to 'unionism.' In The King's English, Amis puts his case for the typewriter over the word-processor, but he may have appreciated the right-wing revisions of my Microsoft software.) The tone is light, and the author frequently on the wind up, but the book does serve as a way to steer between correct use and over-correct use (where the writer would be subject to ridicule).
Not quite Fowler's English Usage, but an idiosyncratic, witty and as with everything Amis Senior, thoroughly entertaining addition to a reference shelf.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this slim volume, Kingsley Amis imparts more wit and wisdom than you're likely to come across in tomes twice the size or more. It's a delight to read cover to cover, and then to dip into as the need arises. Whilst you're unlikely to agree with every one of KA's pronouncements, you will be stimulated to ask yourself why not. Although its primary aim is proper English, as opposed to the mongrel variety we are now subjected to on a daily basis, French expressions come in for discussion, as also does the odd Latin phrase. If you want to be highly amused, mildly exasperated and discreetly educated, then you will not be disappointed.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I keep Fowler next to my desk, which works well as a reference book when you have a specific question. This is an ideal companion volume, and being much more digestible is in many ways more useful. It works best as a book to dip in to, and made me laugh out loud several times. A guaranteed cure for dogmatic pedants...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Delightful
Reading through this informative and engaging update on the original "King's English" is a sheer delight. They don't make people like this any more! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tom Pitsis
A good guide
This is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to English usuage, unlike Fowler, of whom Amis is a big fan. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stephen Hudson
Entertaining and informative
I enjoyed this fascinating book. I was surprised to find that it hardly seemed dated at all. Valuable and interesting ideas presented wittily and with the unique voice of Kingsley... Read more
Published 10 months ago by DebbieB
A masterly love song for the English language
If you love the English language, you must simply read this book. And read again. I just hope someone else will take over from Sir Kingsley Amis and write a 21st century version of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dahlia89
book
i bought this as a present for my son he had it on his wish list very good condition and good price
Published 14 months ago by patty
A delight to be dipped into at will
Idiosyncratic and witty, this meander through the 'correct' use of the English language is as entertaining as it is informative. Read more
Published on 26 April 2009 by D.N.Wijewardane
Museum dust and mothballs
Kingsley Amis was very much a man of the 1950s. His greatest work, Lucky Jim, was published in 1954 and amongst other things poked fun at the stuffy, hyper-conventional world of... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2009 by Triestino
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