The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions
ISBN13: 9780198609193ISBN10: 0198609191
Paperback,
480 pages
Jan 2006,
In Stock
Price:
$16.95 (03)See more from the series
Description
Allusions form a colourful extension to the English language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. So a miser is a Scrooge, a strong man is a Samson or a Hercules, a beautiful woman is a Venus or a modern-day Helen of Troy- -we can suffer like Sisyphus, fail like Canute, or linger like the smile of the Cheshire Cat.This reference work explains the meanings of the allusions in use in modern English, from Abaddon to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. Quotations from a range of authors and sources are included at most entries to illustrate usage--anywhere from Thomas Hardy to Ben Elton, Charles Dickens to Bridget Jones's Diary. This second edition includes completely up-to-date allusions--from Gollum to Kofi Annan--and a handy A-Z order has been adopted for extra ease of reference and usability.
Features
- The best-selling reference work explaining the meanings of allusions in use in English today
- Arranged thematically for easy reference, ranging from Fatness and Jealousy to Moustaches and Invisibility
- Contains a broad depth of coverage, with allusions on anything from Scrooge to Helen of Troy, the Cheshire Cat to Rambo
- Boxed entries give detailed information on characters such as Achilles and Odysseus
About the Author(s)
Andrew Delahunty is a dictionary editor who has worked on many highly regarded reference volumes. He, Sheile Dignen and Penelope Stock are freelance lexicographers.
