Books by Geoffrey Hughes

Covering the various social dynamics that generate swearing, foul language, and insults in the entire range of the English language, this encyclopedia emphasises on American and British English. A-Z entries cover the full range of swearing and foul language in English, including fascinating details on the history and origins of each term.

Tracing the history of swearing from ancient Anglo-Saxon traditions and those of the Middle Ages, through Shakespeare, the Enlightenment and the Victorians, to the Lady Chatterley trial and various current trends, Geoffrey Hughes explores a fascinating, little discussed yet irrespressible part of our linguistic heritage. This second edition contains a Postscript updating various contemporary developments, such as the growth of Political Correctness.