Language is always changing No one knows where it is going but the best way to future-cast is to look at the past John Simpson animates for us a tradition of researching & editing showing us both the technical lexicography needed to understand a word & the careful poetry needed to construct its definition He challenges both the idea that dictionaries are definitive & the notion that language is falling apart With a sense of humour an ability to laugh at bureaucracy & an inclination to question the status quo John Simpson gives life to the colourful characters at the OED & to the English language itself He splices his stories with entertaining & erudite diversions into the history & origin of words such as 'kangaroo' 'hot-dog' 'pommie' 'bicycle' not ignoring those swearwords often classed as ' Anglo-Saxon'! The book will speak to anyone who uses a dictionary 'word people' history lovers students & parents