Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 18th edition [Hardcover]

Brewers (Author), Camilla Rockwood (Editor), John Buchanan-Brown (Introduction), Philip Pullman (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0550104119 | ISBN-13: 978-0550104113 | Publication Date: July 30, 2010 | Edition: Eighteenth Edition

This revised and expanded edition features hundreds of new entries on everything from blogs and designer babies to New York's mysterious sewer-dwelling alligators, as well as a selection of 'heritage entries' from a Victorian edition of Brewer's: see enchanted castles, magic garters and poison detectors. The sheer scope of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, together with its delightful mix of scholarship and eccentricity, makes it a must for every 21st-century bookshelf. Brewer's. Take the scenic route to knowledge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An idiosyncratic adventure, pulling you in and saying: "this is, in fact, not what you werelooking for; but it's much more interesting." -- Terry Pratchett Of all the dictionaries in the world [Brewer's] is the most like a treasure-hunt, where one phrase leads to another, and that to a third, and before you know what's happened, it's time for lunch. -- Philip Pullman Brewer's head-words are so enticing and his definitions so eloquent that it's impossible to stop at one. An addiction may develop. -- Carol Rumens, The Independent 20080912 'By judicious updating and editing and by dint of its elegant design and printing, this latest edition retains as strong a place in its reference market niche as it ever did; long may that continue.' -- Stuart James, Past Editor, Reference Reviews, and formerly University Librarian, University of Paisley, UK 20100609

About the Author

Philip Pullman CBE (born 19 October 1946) is an English writer. He is the best-selling author of His Dark Materials (a trilogy of fantasy novels), and a number of other books.

The Brewer’s range of reference books inspires adventurous readers to take the scenic route to knowledge, exploring connections between language, legend, folklore, general knowledge and curious facts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1584 pages
• Publisher: Brewer's; Eighteenth Edition edition (July 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0550104119
• ISBN-13: 978-0550104113
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.3 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this from Amazon UK, July 12, 2011

By 

Jeffrey amzn Hill (Mill Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 18th edition (Hardcover)

A great book, but Amazon US is charging about $63 while Amazon UK is only charging about 10 pounds, a huge difference. Shipping cost are similar. Go to the UK web site.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great New Brewer's Edition, September 17, 2010

By 

Peter Grant (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 18th edition (Hardcover)

I've read or browsed through every Brewer's edition since #13, and this is an excellent update. Some of Dr. Brewer's original definitions are included (a new feature, everything old is new again), which offers a delightful window into the original text. Brewer's is an excellent reference (What does that name MEAN in Harry Potter? Who was that Tolkien wizard?), but it's also just plain fun to read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing resource, August 27, 2011

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Mom reader - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, 18th edition (Hardcover)

This Brewer's Dictionary was purchased as a gift, after I had received it and thumbed through it a few times I had to buy another for our house hold too.