Scorn: The Wittiest and Wickedest Insults in Human History

by Matthew Parris

Overview

'He's 100% political herpes. Back in six months whatever you do. Or three days, like last time.' Camilla Long on Nigel Farage
'You're as ugly as a salad.' Bulgarian insult
'I'm going to beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.' Muhammed Ali

There's no pleasure like a perfectly turned put-down (when it's directed at somebody else, of course) but Matthew Parris's Scorn is sharply different from the standard collections. Here are the funniest, sharpest, rudest and most devastating insults in history, from ancient Roman graffiti to the battlefields of Twitter.

Drawing on bile from such masters as Dorothy Parker, Elizabeth I, Donald Trump, Groucho Marx, Princess Anne, Winston Churchill, Nigel Farage, Mae West and Alastair Campbell - which form an exchange between voices down the ages - Scorn shows that abuse can be an art form. This collection includes extended literary invective as well as short verbal shin-kicks.

Encompassing literature, art, politics, showbiz, marriage, gender, nationality and religion, Matthew Parris's sublime collection is the perfect companion for the festive season, whether you're searching for the perfect elegant riposte, the rudest polite letter ever written, or a brutal verbal sledgehammer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782832973
Publisher:	Profile
Publication date:	11/10/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	865 KB

About the Author

Matthew Parris worked for the Foreign Office before serving as an MP. He now writes as a columnist for The Times and the Spectator, and in 2011 won the Best Columnist award at the British Press Awards. He is the author of several books, including his autobiography Chance Witness and the bestselling The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Humanity 8

God And Religion 24

Morality 40

Nations 43

Places 71

Race 79

Class And Courtesy 84

Kings, Queens And Commoners 90

People, Politicians And Government 100

Left And Right 114

British Politics 122

Peers 178

Australian Politics 181

American Politics 185

Politics In Europe And Beyond 203

War 206

Empire 213

Journalism 216

Writers, Publishers And Critics 227

Art 266

Music 272

Theatre, Film And Television 287

Doctors And Psychologists 308

Law And Lawyers 311

Business And Economics 317

Sport 322

Celebrity 337

Food And Drink 343

Women And Men 347

Marriage And Family 372

Age 385

Ancients, Primitives And Folk Curses 390

Extra Bile: Brexit, Corbyn, Trump, Macron 407

Acknowledgements 416

Index 418

Editorial Reviews

".. miniature in size and big on malevolence"- Mail on Sunday

"The clearest pen and the most fastidious sense of quality" - The Times

"A beautiful collection of insults down the ages. Parris has a feel for language, a sense of history and a wonderful wit"- Scotland on Sunday

From the Publisher