Wicked French (Paperback)

by Howard Tomb (Author) "French people believe that they invented Western civilization..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Caveat emptor: Any traveler to France who actually says to the customs agent Bien sur, soyez le bienvenu pour reduire ma valise en miettes. Heureusement ce ne sont que des valises moches de Louis Vuitton! (Of course you're welcome to tear my suitcase apart. Lucky they're only these tacky Louis Vuitton bags!) is likely to find him or herself detained at the customs desk for a nice, long spell. Likewise, responding to a waiter's suggestion with Je reserve la lamproie a la bordelaise pour un occasion speciale (I'm saving a stew of blood-sucking eels for a very special occasion.) just about guarantees bad service. In other words, the French you'll learn from Wicked French for Travelers is probably best enjoyed at home before you go.

Like Henry Beard's French for Cats this slim volume is meant to amuse more than educate. Surely you wouldn't really expect some Parisian beauty to respond to a pick-up line like Comment vous appelez-vous, mon bijou de trente-six carats? (What is your name, my jewel of thirty-six carats?) or hope to make it out of a post office alive after demanding of the clerk if he has a porcupine stuck up his rear end (avez-vous un porc-epic coince entre les fesses?). Our advice: Read Wicked French and have a good laugh before you go--but take a different phrase book with you on your trip.

Product Description
Any French guide can teach you to say J'ai faim!}(" I'm starving!" ), but only WICKED FRENCH gives you the je ne sais quoi to hold your own with the natives -- argue like a vrai existentialist, cultivate an attitude. 266,000 copies in print.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (January 9, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894806165
• ISBN-13: 978-0894806162
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 3.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #362,950 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny - not meant to be taken seriously, June 11, 2003

By A Customer

I hope everyone realizes that this book is not actually meant to be used in France. I mean, there may be a rare occasion or two where you might actually be able to put it into practice, but for the most part I wouldn't recommend it. Some of the phrases are extremely insulting or are exaggerated for comic effect. What I mean is that French people don't really go around saying that the wine they're drinking has "wrinkled buttocks." The entire series of "Wicked" books is, in my opinion, one big tongue-in-cheek kind of joke. They work best for people who have been to these countries and/or have familiarity with some of the customs and thus can appreciate the humor. They're tiny, fun, and cheap; I've had mine for years and I still thumb through them from time to time for a quick laugh. Howard Tomb and the illustrator, Jared Lee, have more than a touch of comic genius.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly top-of-the-line as far as slang instruction goes, September 5, 1998

By A Customer

Well, anyone can tell when reading this little book that it is meant to be a humorous guide and not intended for actual practice. I found some of the sayings entertaining but not really practical even for friends to say amongst themselves jokingly. As a polyglot and a student, I have found numerous other series of language books that do a much better job of addressing idioms, colloquialisms, and slang for those truly interested in acquiring a working knowledge of a certain language. As far as a good set of books to check out for French slang, I highly recommend the "Street French" series and in particular, the third book, "The Best of Naughty French."

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now we know why the French think Jerry Lewis is a genius., June 16, 1999

By A Customer

The best thing about this small but very potent book is flexibility. Not only does it allow a tourist a limited linguistic advantage but it also provides valuable insight as a cultural tool. While this book may help explain why the French think of Jerry Lewis as a comic genius, it doesn't excuse it.