AEL

An Exaltation of Larks James Lipton

It is suspected that the reader’s first reaction after reading the title of this book with its nicely provocative (and I swear, not really misleading) subtitle, and finding himself, not in Gomorrah, but in Academe, will be one of disappointment. The Venereal game is played with language, words and poetry.

A rhapsody of bluesA plague of locals A gush of sycophantsA watch of Swiss

All are terms of venery, those imaginative collective nouns that evolved in the middle-ages when the sophisticated art of hunting demanded an equally sophisticated vocabulary. In addition to a passion for sport, our forebears delighted in the play of words, and so the rich and fanciful phrases became codified, naming particular groups of humans as well as all manner of other creatures.

The author has taken the next step and invented many new terms of venery as well, to fit the modern world; a wince of dentists; a lot of used car-dealers.

The wit and poetry of this charming collection of collectives (a new term of venery is plainly needed here) will be gobbled up by anyone who enjoys words and word-play.

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Designed by Charlie Garrod