Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations by Ned Sherrin

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
We all admire those clever minds with the cunning ability to spit witty repartee at a moment's notice. The Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations compiles a vast collection of such noted quotes -- some infamous, some obscure -- into one accessible guide, alphabetized by subject, from Acting to Youth, and by source, from Bud Abbott to Jerry Zucker. You'll leaf through and declare, "I wish I had said that!" on more than one occasion.

From contemporary voices like Dorothy Parker, P. J. O'Rourke, and Woody Allen to canonical writers like Charles Dickens and Evelyn Waugh to legends like Mae West and Bob Hope, the approximately 5,000 quotes are fodder for amusement and impetus to sharpen one's own verbal skills. While some could be considered odd choices that don't necessarily fit the humor bill, most inspire at least a subtle smirk, such as a movie studio's official comment on Fred Astaire ("Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances") and Tony Curtis's response when asked what it was like to kiss Marilyn Monroe ("It's like kissing Hitler").

Still, this dense reference guide packs in the showstoppers (Jack Warner on hearing that Ronald Reagan was seeking nomination as governor of California: "No, no. Jimmy Stewart for governor -- Ronald Reagan for his best friend") and the unforgettables ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room").

This reference should be a requirement on the bookshelf of every writer, reader, and lover of the history of the human race. (Karen Mancuso)

From the Publisher

Dazzlingly entertaining, this new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations contains over 5,000 quotations hand-picked by the writer and broadcaster Ned Sherrin. Containing a wide coverage of themes, including forty brand new ones such as Autobiography, Awards and Prizes, Parties, Presidents, Smoking, and Tennis, there is something for everyone on every subject imaginable.

From sharp one-liners to witty quips, there are quotations from classic humorists such as Mae West, Oscar Wilde, and Groucho Marx, to today's well known comedians and wits including Dick Vosburgh, Maureen Lipman, Tracey Ullman, Ben Elton, and Ian Hislop. There are of course quotations from famous luminaries from walks of life other than comedy, from Samuel Johnson to Tennessee Williams, and Albert Einstein to the Duke of Wellington.
With details of where each quotation comes from, who said it, where and when, an author index allowing you at a glance to establish who said what, and a detailed keyword index, this is not just an ideal reference tool but also an invaluable and classic collection.
"France is a country where the money falls apart in your hands and you can't tear the toilet paper."
Billy Wilder

"People don't come in my size until they're old. I used to think people were born with big bones and large frames, but apparently these grow when you're about sixty-eight."
Maeve Binchy

"They say the definition of ambivalence is watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your new Cadillac."
David Mamet

"I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli!"
George Bush

Library Journal

Cleverly edited by Sherrin, a writer, satirist, and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends, a weekly satirical gathering of international news, this unique, single-volume work is both a compendium of quotes and also a great browsing book for people fascinated with language. From an international group of writers, humorists, actors, and public figures, Sherrin has collected almost 6000 quotes, some witty puns and one-liners and some possibly insulting. Along with traditional favorites such as Mark Twain, Mae West, and Shakespeare, this new edition updates the 1996 edition with more contemporary figures, such as Madonna, Jay Leno, and Mick Jagger. About 800 new quotations have been added, and some material has been cut. The themes are arranged alphabetically, from "Actors" to "Youth," and citations sourced from movies, plays, novels, literature, songs, radio programs, and many other places provide the author's name, birth and death dates, source of quote, and context. While some entries may seem "foreign" to a U.S. audience, most readers will find something to chuckle about as they browse. Covering a wide range of themes, authors, and time periods, this source is excellent for public speakers, writers, trivia buffs, and those who love to laugh. Highly recommended for medium-sized and larger libraries. Highly recommended. Bobbie Wrinkle, McCracken Cty. P.L., Paducah, KY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Perhaps no other work of reference has quite the same capacity as has the quotation book of making readers forget the original object of their search. A single page yields an abundance of distracting brilliancies, witticisms, and amazingly silly things to keep one going for hours. This omnivorous accumulation of roughly 5000 quotations is a triumph of browsing and a labor of love. Sherrin, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends, has plenty of able predecessors in this crowded anthology pasture, but few are dedicated exclusively to observations of humorous bent. The names are famous and not so famous as quipstersMark Twain, Tom Stoppard, Stephen Leacock, Enrico Fermi, and Louis XIV, to name a fewand few of the selections are thigh-slappingly funny, but they do divert pleasingly. Recommended for quotation book collections.A.J. Anderson, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston Ragsdale, Lyn. Vital Statistics on the Presidency: Washington to Clinton.

School Library Journal

YAOne liners, insults, puns, and all manner of clever, witty, and hilariously funny quotes are included in this book. It's a great source for public speakers, writers, trivia buffs, browsers, and anyone who loves a laugh. Who, what, and when information is provided for each entry as well as a keyword and an author index. The 5,000 quotes cover a wide range of themes and time periods.

Details from Seller

• ISBN: 0192806572
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Pub. Date: September 2007
• Condition:

Comments from the Seller: 2007 Paperback Very Good Publisher overstock. May have remainder mark.

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents