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Prose & Cons

The English Language in Just a Minute

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Prose & Cons

By: Gyles Brandreth
Narrated by: Gyles Brandreth
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

As fans of Just a Minute know, the key to the game is knowing your way around the English language: how it works, how it’s evolved, and how words connect, often in surprising ways. When it comes to the English language (and Just a Minute), Gyles Brandreth has seen it all – and now he’s ready to put you through your linguistic paces, to become a Just a Minute expert yourself.

In this wildly entertaining A to Z of verbal acrobatics, Gyles takes you on a whirlwind tour of our mother tongue – from the origins of words and correct grammar and punctuation, to similes, euphemisms and record breaking tongue twisters (try getting your mouth around floccinaucinihilipification!). An idiosyncratic blend of history, word play, anecdote, and hyperbole, all in 60-second instalments, this is Gyles Brandreth at his word-perfect, Just-a-Minute best. You’ll never mix your metaphors again...

'A whirlwind tour of the joys of English, by the master of concision and wit.’ – Susie Dent

‘Gyles is very funny – and never lost for words!’ – Dame Judi Dench

©2024 Gyles Brandreth (P)2024 Penguin Audio
Linguistics World Funny
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Money for old rope

I like Glyes Brandreth. But this is another in a growing library of his books he can knock out in his sleep, Inconsequential lists, famous quotes and anecdotes, and grammatical bloopers that he has trotted out numerous times before,

The Just a Minute conceit is only loosely adhered to and sometimes inhibits comprehension. And I found myself in some of the interminable lists, somewhat confused, having missed what linked the apparently random items. Despite Brandreth's characteristically exuberant narration, this one might work better as a printed work,

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