The Joy of Lex: How to Have Fun With 860,341,500 Words

by Gyles Brandreth

For word buffs, for puzzle lovers, for anagram addicts, for crossword enthusiasts, for Scrabble players, for readers with an eye for the eccentric, and an ear for the unusual, this is the ultimate guide to the lighter side of the English language, written by a seasoned wordsmith and self-confessed verbaholic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Reference, Linguistics, Words, Humor, Writing

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Full name: Gyles Daubeney Brandreth.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.

As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).

He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.

Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.

Reviews

[Rod · Rating 5 out of 5]

However painful we may be to the general populace, it's a simple fact that those of us whose humor tends toward puns are very, very much enthralled by language -- especially the sound, flow, and rhythm of words. This is an excellent book for anyone with a love of the English language and its many possibilities. I wanted it the instant I found it on a bookshelf, and though it took me a few years I was thrilled to eventually own it AND its sequel, More Joy of Lex.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book, but the author desperately needed a proofreader for the paperback edition. I've found several typos already. This is unfortunate, especially for some of the quiz answers as those less read may take these as fact. I just took a quiz in which "snagfroid" was the correct answer. One would need some amount of sangfroid not to take out a pencil and correct it themselves. I admit outright that I could not control myself and made the correction in cold lead. (At least Mr. Brandreth would appreciate the pun.)

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat dated, but still a funny look at language. You get some anecdotes, aphorisms, and a few puzzles thrown together, addressing the oddity that is the hodge-podge English of today. If you're an English teacher (and I am), I'd recommend it for classroom fodder. With some minor adjustments you can use some of the material for a laugh or two.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked this book a bit more if I had read this when it came out in the early 80’s. By now I have learned about most of the funny wordy things in this book. Although the authors enthusiasm for the content came through, mine did not last long.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. A bit like r
Richard Lederer. Games, anagrams, criticisms.

[Katrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aged book, cunningly devised, every facet generally humourous.
I just keep learning more needless obtuse puns, quirky riddles. Saying thanks unknown, valued writer. x-pecting your zanities.

[Nilendu Misra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of it was later repeated in “Word Play”, and some if it has not aged well - but still a good book for word lovers.

[Geoff Cumberbeach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good miscellany of lexical trivia.
Some very memorable.
Good for the throne room, rather than surfing with phone.

[Henry Seufert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book validated the innermost contents of my head.

[Stuart Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love words, so I loved this book - filled with trivia and games all based on words.

[MaryAlice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Joy of Lex by Gyles Brandreth: Light reading, fun, the kind of book that I returned to picking and choosing my favorite chapters to re-read.

As with the rest of my personal library, no longer have the book, but may just have to get another one.

[Severine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For logophiles everywhere - a great read and re-read

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but dated. Lots of lists, some of which weren't my favorite topics. Would have made a great website, but it was written in 1980, so the technology wasn't available.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to tatters when I was a kid. Which, you know, probably explains a lot.

[Noel]

Informative, witty, funny, absolutely interesting.....

[Ufozoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarius! They should so make this our English textbook. It actually teaches you more! (By the way, I made level 4 on the quiz about how many words that you know!)