{"title":"Literary Interest \/ Writing Style","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781454952350","title":"Dictionary of Fine Distinctions : Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Burnstein, Eli \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHumour\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 5 September 2024 by Union Square \u0026amp; Co. in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHardback | 208 pages, 100 1-colour illus.\u003cbr\u003e185 x 130 x 20 | 284g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'This delightful book is a tribute to the genius of the human mind for conceptual precision and the beauty of the English language in capturing it. It resolves a great deal of puzzlement over confusable terms, and its endearing illustrations and lighthearted explanations multiply the satisfaction.' —Steven Pinker, author of The Language Instinct and Rationality What’s the difference between mazes and labyrinths? Proverbs and adages? Clementines and tangerines? Join author Eli Burnstein on a hairsplitter’s odyssey into the world of the ultra-subtle with Dictionary of Fine Distinctions. Illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck, this humorous dictionary takes a neurotic, brain-tickling plunge into the infinite (and infinitesimal) nuances that make up our world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The perfect gift for book lovers, word nerds, trivia geeks, and everyday readers, this illustrated gem is more than just a book—it is an indispensable resource akin to a thesaurus but filled with charm and wit. Each entry, from “latte vs. flat white' to “Great Britain vs. The United Kingdom,' is accompanied by mnemonic aids, quirky asides, and detailed illustrations, making it a standout dictionary for any bibliophile or language enthusiast's library.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor fans of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows or Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, Dictionary of Fine Distinctions promises to be a cherished addition to the genre that offers clarity, joy, and a deeper appreciation for the subtleties of the English language. The quintessential librarian gift and English teacher gift, it’s an educational odyssey that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491181773186,"sku":"9781454952350","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781454952350.jpg?v=1753741080"},{"product_id":"9781911641087","title":"100 Children's Books : That Inspire Our World","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Salter, Colin \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAnthologies (non-poetry)\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 23 March 2020 by Harpercollins Publishers (Pavilion) in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHardback | 224 pages\u003cbr\u003e191 x 239 x 20 | 902g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn amazing guide to some of the most beloved, original, inspiring, hysterical, heart-warming, compelling, rude and downright scary books that have enchanted children the world over.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  In 100 Children's Books That Inspired Our World, author Colin Salter surveys an exceptional collection of truly groundbreaking children's books - from Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer to the graphic novels of Dr. Seuss. 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Informed by this belief, linguistic expert Piero Boitani invites the reader to explore the wisdom of the works of literature underpinning Western culture, and highlights their profound and sometimes surprising connection to the present.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe themes explored in this book are as wide-ranging as they are enduringly relevant. They include the Iliad's depiction of power and war, as well as its invocation of compassion as one of the necessary foundations of society; the Odyssey as the world's first novel; Lucretius and the way he transformed Greek scientific thought into sublime poetry; Virgil's celebration of the history of Rome, from small village to world capital, as well as Tacitus' denunciation of the imperialistic nature of Roman power; and Ovid's Metamorphoses-a poem about incessant change the first postmodern classic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491433038210,"sku":"9781787701816","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781787701816.jpg?v=1753746920"},{"product_id":"9781526624246","title":"A Swim in a Pond in the Rain : From the Man Booker Prize-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Lincoln in the Bardo","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Saunders, George \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eRussian\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 19 April 2022 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 432 pages\u003cbr\u003e130 x 197 x 30 | 350g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERPICKED BY THE SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, INDEPENDENT, IRISH TIMES, SPECTATOR, TLS, NEW STATESMAN, MAIL ON SUNDAY, I PAPER, PROSPECT, REVEW31 AND EVENING STANDARD AS A BOOK OF 2021'A masterclass from a warm and engagingly enthusiastic companion' Guardian Summer Reading Picks 2021‘This book is a delight, and it’s about delight too. 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Paired with iconic short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, the seven essays in this book are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works and why it’s more relevant than ever in these turbulent times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn his introduction, Saunders writes, “We’re going to enter seven fastidiously constructed scale models of the world, made for a specific purpose that our time maybe doesn’t fully endorse but that these writers accepted implicitly as the aim of art—namely, to ask the big questions, questions like, How are we supposed to be living down here? What were we put here to accomplish? What should we value? What is truth, anyway, and how might we recognize it?” He approaches the stories technically yet accessibly, and through them explains how narrative functions; why we stay immersed in a story and why we resist it; and the bedrock virtues a writer must foster. 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Rejoice! Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany, is a love letter to all things bookish. Author Jane Mount brings literary people, places, and things to life through her signature and vibrant illustrations. It's a must-have for every book collection, and makes a wonderful literary gift for book lovers, writers, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders of Jane Mount's Bibliophile will delight in:Touring the world's most beautiful bookstoresTesting their knowledge of the written word with quizzesFinding their next great read in lovingly curated stacks of booksSampling the most famous fictional mealsPeeking inside the workspaces of their favorite authorsA source of endless inspiration, literary facts and recommendations: Bibliophile is pure bookish joy and sure to enchant book clubbers, English majors, poetry devotees, aspiring writers, and any and all who identify as book lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you have read or own: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life; The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History, and Civilization; or How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines; then you will want to read and own Jane Mount's Bibliophile.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491433136514,"sku":"9781452167237","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781452167237.jpg?v=1753746925"},{"product_id":"9780062469892","title":"Botanical Shakespeare : An Illustrated Compendium of All the Flowers, Fruits, Herbs, Trees, Seeds, and Grasses Cited by the World's Greatest Playwright","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Quealy, Gerit, Collins, Sumie Hasegawa, Mirren, Helen \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eShakespeare plays\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 18 May 2017 by Harpercollins Publishers Inc (Harper Design) in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHardback | 208 pages\u003cbr\u003e172 x 245 x 25 | 782g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA captivating, beautifully illustrated, one-of-a-kind color compendium of the flowers, fruits, herbs, trees, seeds, and grasses cited in the works of the world's greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, accompanied by their companion quotes from all of his plays and poems. With a foreword by Dame Helen Mirren-the first foreword she has ever contributed. In this striking compilation, Shakespeare historian Gerit Quealy and respected Japanese artist Sumie Hasegawa combine their knowledge and skill in this first and only book that examines every plant that appears in the works of Shakespeare. Botanical Shakespeare opens with a brief look at the Bard's relationship to the plants mentioned in his works-a diversity that illuminates his knowledge of the science of botany, as well as the colloquy, revealing his unmatched skill for creating metaphorical connections and interweaving substantive philosophy. 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This breathtaking, incomparable collection of exquisite artwork and companion quotes offers unique depth and insight into Shakespeare and his timeless work through the unusual perspective of the plants themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491433202050,"sku":"9780062469892","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9780062469892.jpg?v=1753746927"},{"product_id":"9780192853851","title":"Classics: A Very Short Introduction","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Henderson, John \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAncient (Classical) Greek\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 27 February 2000 by Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Very Short Introductions' series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 160 pages, black and white halftones and line drawings\u003cbr\u003e172 x 113 x 10 | 142g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Very Short Introduction to Classics links a haunting temple on a lonely mountainside to the glory of ancient Greece and the grandeur of Rome, and to Classics within modern culture-from Jefferson and Byron to Asterix and Ben-Hur. 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Full of wry observations and warm humour, as well as strong opinions freely aired, this is a rare and wonderful insight into the rich world of reading from one of the nation's most accomplished authors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491433595266,"sku":"9781781250815","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781781250815.jpg?v=1753746939"},{"product_id":"9781786895363","title":"Letters of Note: Grief","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Usher, Shaun \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDiaries, letters \u0026amp; journals\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 6 May 2021 by Canongate Books in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 144 pages, No\u003cbr\u003e111 x 176 x 20 | 104g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Letters of Note: Grief, Shaun Usher gathers together some of the most powerful messages about grief, from the heart-wrenching pain of losing a loved one to reliving fond memories of those who have passed on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIncludes letters by:Audre Lorde, Robert Frost,Nick Cave, Rainer Maria Rilke,Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette,Kahlil Gibran, Edith Wharton,Mary Wortley Montagu, Seungsahn Haengwon\u0026amp; many more\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55491433660802,"sku":"9781786895363","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781786895363.jpg?v=1753746941"},{"product_id":"9781474605175","title":"Lines in the Sand : Collected Journalism","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Gill, Adrian \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eLiterature \u0026amp; literary studies\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 8 February 2018 by Orion Publishing Co (Weidenfeld \u0026amp; Nicolson) in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 320 pages\u003cbr\u003e129 x 197 x 21 | 262g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'By miles the most brilliant journalist of our age' Lynn Barber'A golden writer' Andrew MarrA. A. Gill was rightly hailed as one of the greatest journalists of our time. This selection of some of his recent pieces, which he made himself before his untimely death, spans the last five years from all corners of the world. It shows him at his most perceptive, brilliant and funny.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis subjects range from the controversial - fur - to the heartfelt - a fantastic crystallisation of what it means to be European. He tackles life drawing, designs his own tweed, considers boyhood through the prism of the Museum of Childhood, and spends a day at Donald Trump's university. In his final two articles he wrote with characteristic wit and courage about his cancer diagnosis - 'the full English - and the limits of the NHS. But more than any other subject, a recurring theme emerges in the overwhelming story of our times: the refugee crisis. In the last few years A. A. Gill wrote with compassion and anger about the refugees' story, giving us both its human face and its appalling context. 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As a pessimistic lover of words, this was both comforting and heart-warming. I always think that learning about etymology is a way to appreciate the secret code of the world, and Susie is the perfect guide and companion and lexical cheerleader.' - Stig Abel'Susie Dent's way with words always makes me happy. This is my kind of book. There's positivity on every page.' - Gyles BrandrethSusie Dent, bestselling author, broadcaster and word expert, is on a mission to find light in the deepest, darkest corners of our language.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt takes just a short browse through the dictionary to spot how it is filled with negative words. 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Themes, plots, characters, and language are brought to life with act-by-act plot summaries, resumes of main characters, and in-depth analysis of Shakespeare's use of the English language. Shakespeare: His Life and Works is a wonderful exploration of plays, poems, and sonnets in the context of his life and the Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre further enriching your experience on, on the page, stage, or screen. 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Popularly considered the cradle of Western civilisation, this is a Christian Orthodox state on the edge of the Islamic world. And, after a half-century of integration into NATO and the EU, Greece is now reabsorbing into the Near East, as the West fractures and new Middle Eastern powers rise. The country’s importance as a cultural and geopolitical hybrid is growing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTravelling through the region, Sean Mathews explores at ground level the tectonic shifts reshaping Europe and the Middle East. He meets the last Greek merchants in Cairo, and hears from Istanbul’s remaining Greeks about Turkey’s break with the West. 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Cooke has dug deep and uncovered nuggets of pure gold in every form of writing  . . . a delicious book about the great power and strength of real friendship' TABLET Friendship, a timeless subject, has never been more debated, something that has to do both with the internet - the perils of WhatsApp groups, the agony of ghosting - as well as with a growing awareness that loneliness is increasing in our society. Friendship has become a matter of urgent inquiry to therapists, scientists and sociologists. We understand its importance more and more, not only as a comfort and a privilege, but as vital to our health. But it's hard to get inside friendship: its particular intensity and its miraculous ease; its tendency to wax and wane; its ability to inspire both delight and despair.  This is the territory of novels and poems, diaries and letters, comics and graphic novels - and it is where the innovative and wide ranging Virago Book of Friendship steps in, bringing together work by more than 100 writers. From Jane Austen to Edith Wharton and Virginia Woolf, from Dolly Alderton to Sarah Waters and Meg Wolitzer and, it celebrates and investigates friendship between women from first encounters to final goodbyes, from falling out to making up again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A treasure chest' THE TIMES'An uplifting anthology' HARPER'S BAZAAR'A fascinating document' LITERARY REVIEW'An exhilaratingly wide array' SPECTATOR\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56329598632322,"sku":"9780349018423","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9780349018423.jpg?v=1770620733"},{"product_id":"9781805225850","title":"Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea : Journeys through Ancient Literature","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor: Emily Wilson\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAncient World\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 4 June 2026 by Profile Books Ltd in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 288 pages\u003cbr\u003e196 x 130 x 23 | 246g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Enthralling and profoundly relevant' Salman Rushdie'Joyful, illuminating and engaging ' Madeline Miller'A masterclass in translation' Blake Morrison, GuardianHow do we give old words new voices? What must a translator lose - and what might she gain - when she moves between languages, bringing ancient stories to modern life?Emily Wilson has spent a lifetime wrestling with these questions: here, she invites us to consider the meaning and messages of translators from antiquity to today - and gives a wholly fresh insight into her own work on Homer. From shifting depictions of Helen of Troy to Cardi B and Athenian comedy, Han Kang's novels and Rome's love of Greek culture, Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea is a playful and fascinating voyage into the promise, possibility and constant renewal of classical literature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56695080681858,"sku":"9781805225850","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781805225850.jpg?v=1780898684"},{"product_id":"9781037408502","title":"The Truth About Books : A celebration of the magic of reading","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor: Elina Ellis\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePicture storybooks\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 11 June 2026 by Pan Macmillan (Two Hoots) in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 32 pages\u003cbr\u003e280 x 224 x 8 | 184g\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEver wondered what makes a book so special? They don’t light up, they don't make a sound – but they can take you anywhere! Perfect for little book-lovers and reluctant readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJoin one curious little boy on a magical journey of discovery with his whole family, as he finds out that books are secret doorways to adventure, bridges to new worlds and wings for your imagination. Whether it’s a trip to a library or a quiet moment at home, this vibrant story shows that the wonder of reading is for everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn adventurous and joyful picture book celebration of reading, from the Macmillan Prize-winning creator of The Truth About Old People. Perfect for new readers, The Truth About Books by Elina Ellis is a heartwarming story to treasure and to share.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cobham Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56695080714626,"sku":"9781037408502","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0569\/4567\/2367\/files\/9781037408502.jpg?v=1780898685"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.cobhambooks.pro\/collections\/literary-interest-writing-style.oembed?page=3","provider":"Cobham Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}