Books by Adrienne

The rapid and practical way to master the basics and begin speaking the language. The book gives you the essential, simplified grammar plus 3000 of the most-used words and idiomatic phrases that people use in real-life situations. The book can be used as a self-learner by beginners and also by those who want to brush up.

"To speak or not to speak? That is the Gimmick!" -Francoise Sagan

Here is the third in Norton's colorful reissues of Adrienne's popular guides to learning languages.

Perhaps I should begin with what a Gimmick is not. It is not a serious scholarly book. It IS the answer to your problems in speaking and understanding Italian - a method of acquiring an international vocabulary.

Every language has a basic vocabulary of similar words and expressions.

The author of the popular Gimmick series offers a basic teaching tool for people who need to learn the rudiments of French in a hurry.

Every language has a basic vocabulary of similar words and expressions. Adrienne's acclaimed "Gimmick" approach offers both the beginner and the seasoned traveler a fast and effective route to this lexicon by teaching language as it is actually spoken.

"I wish I had had a book such as the Gimmick when I was living in France."-Henry Miller

"Beginners aren't imbeciles! The boring repetition of inane exercises in 'modern' methods is an insult to the intelligence." -Adrienne

A rapid and practical way for tourists, students, and businesspeople to master the basics of Italian and begin speaking the language.