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Passing English of the Victorian Period
Acutely aware of the changes affecting English at the end of the Victorian era, writer and journalist J. Redding Ware set out to record words and turns of phrase from all walks of life, from the curses in common use by sailors to the rhyming slang of the street and the jargon of the theater dandies. In doing so, he extended the lifespan of words like “air-hole,” “lally-gagging,” and “bow-wow mutton.”
First published in 1909 and reproduced here with a new introduction by Oxford English Dictionary former editor John Simpson, The Victorian Dictionary of Slang and Phrase 1909 reflects the rich history of unofficial English. Many of the expressions are obsolete; one is not likely to have the misfortune of encountering a “parlour jumper.” Order a “shant of bivvy” at the pub and you’ll be met with a blank stare. But some of the entries reveal the origins of expressions still in use today, such as calling someone a “bad egg” to indicate that they are dishonest or of ill-repute. While showing the significant influence of American English on Victorian slang, the Dictionary also demonstrates how impressively innovative its speakers were. A treasure trove of everyday language of the nineteenth century, this book has much to offer in terms of insight into the intriguing history of English and will be of interest to anyone with a passion for words.
First published in 1909 and reproduced here with a new introduction by Oxford English Dictionary former editor John Simpson, The Victorian Dictionary of Slang and Phrase 1909 reflects the rich history of unofficial English. Many of the expressions are obsolete; one is not likely to have the misfortune of encountering a “parlour jumper.” Order a “shant of bivvy” at the pub and you’ll be met with a blank stare. But some of the entries reveal the origins of expressions still in use today, such as calling someone a “bad egg” to indicate that they are dishonest or of ill-repute. While showing the significant influence of American English on Victorian slang, the Dictionary also demonstrates how impressively innovative its speakers were. A treasure trove of everyday language of the nineteenth century, this book has much to offer in terms of insight into the intriguing history of English and will be of interest to anyone with a passion for words.
217 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
James Redding Ware
11 books1 followerAka Andrew Forrester
James Redding Ware (1832-c 1909) was a British writer, novelist and playwright, creator of one of the first female detectives in fiction.
James Redding Ware was born in Southwark, south London, in 1832, the son of James Ware, a grocer, and Elizabeth, nee Redding. By 1851, his father had died, and his mother, according to the census, was a grocer and tea-dealer, and James Redding Ware was her assistant. By 1861, the household is no longer in place, and J. R. Ware is not readily identifiable in the census. But in 1865, James Redding Ware became a Freemason, at the Westbourne Lodge No. 733, and he was living in Peckham. (He became a Junior Warden at the Urban Lodge, no. 1196, and by 1872 a Worshipful Master (WM).)
His detective works include: The Female Detective (c.1863/4), 'edited by A.F.'; Secret Service, or, Recollections of a City Detective (?1864); The Private Detective and Revelations of the Private Detective (both c.1868).
James Redding Ware (1832-c 1909) was a British writer, novelist and playwright, creator of one of the first female detectives in fiction.
James Redding Ware was born in Southwark, south London, in 1832, the son of James Ware, a grocer, and Elizabeth, nee Redding. By 1851, his father had died, and his mother, according to the census, was a grocer and tea-dealer, and James Redding Ware was her assistant. By 1861, the household is no longer in place, and J. R. Ware is not readily identifiable in the census. But in 1865, James Redding Ware became a Freemason, at the Westbourne Lodge No. 733, and he was living in Peckham. (He became a Junior Warden at the Urban Lodge, no. 1196, and by 1872 a Worshipful Master (WM).)
His detective works include: The Female Detective (c.1863/4), 'edited by A.F.'; Secret Service, or, Recollections of a City Detective (?1864); The Private Detective and Revelations of the Private Detective (both c.1868).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 31, 2017
Exceptional. By far the most comprehensive resource on the topic I have ever encountered. An absolute MUST for anyone who set their books in the Victorian era.
September 24, 2015
Astounding! Just buy a copy and enjoy.
WELL what are you waiting for.........
WELL what are you waiting for.........
January 18, 2016
A wonderful reference book for writers looking to bring some authenticity to their historical works.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews