Author: Blackburn, Joshua

Language: history & general works

Published on 25 September 2025 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 240 pages
135 x 206 x 24 | 298g

FROM THE INVENTOR OF 'THE LEAGUE OF THE LEXICON' BOARDGAME – THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL WHO LOVE WORDS AND LANGUAGE.

'A word-lover's dream' Stephen Fry Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Learn the art of Scottish insults? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? Here you will find all this and more.

Part encyclopaedia, part miscellany, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a delightful tour of the world of words, from the origin of Abracadabra to Zyzzyva and the end of the dictionary. Meticulously researched, witfully written and beautifully designed with hand-drawn illustrations by Caroline Church, each page is a lucky dip into the English language.

The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is catnip for curious minds. Inside, you’ll find Scottish Insults (you’re talking mince), Elizabethan Colours (like Ape’s Laugh and Lustie Gallant), the dangerous history of the Index of Banned Books, unusual mealtimes, Technobabble and over a hundred words for Scottish rain. There’s even a Dictionary of Small Things. Each entry points to other entries, so after exploring one rabbit hole there’s always another to get lost in. See where they lead you.

This deliciously original book takes readers around the sidelines and leylines of language. You will be sure to come away armed with an arsenal of linguistic knowledge to impress and entertain in all sorts of useful – and not so useful – situations.

***'This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff' Lynne Truss'This is a magical book - all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!' Milton Jones