A Wonderland of Words: Around the Word in 101 Essays is Shashi Tharoor’s collection about the English language: its history and evolution, regional varieties, misuse, literary life and oddities. It is for curious readers who enjoy exploring how words work—not a reference dictionary or a language textbook.
What is A Wonderland of Words about?
The book takes English words and language as its subject. Its scope includes how English has changed, how it varies across places, how words are used—or misused—and the role of language in literature. The publisher’s description presents it as an exploration of the quirks of English through essays, rather than as a systematic guide to grammar or a dictionary.
The full title is A Wonderland of Words: Around the Word in 101 Essays. The title signals its essay format: readers can expect a series of pieces about words and language, not a single continuous narrative.
Who wrote the book, and how did the project begin?
Shashi Tharoor wrote the book. In a first-person essay about its origins, he traces the project to a longstanding fascination with language, public attention to his vocabulary and an invitation to write a regular column about words. He recalls, “I fell in love with language as a child.” Tharoor says interest in the column helped lead to the book; this is his account of how the project came about.
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Tharoor also recounts that a tweet using the word “farrago” prompted attention to the word. He says the Oxford English Dictionary recorded more than a million searches for “farrago” within a few hours. That figure is Tharoor’s report in his essay; it is not independently confirmed by an OED source here, and he does not give a year for it.
Who is likely to enjoy it?
- Readers who like discovering the history, evolution and regional variation of English words.
- People interested in how language is used in literature, everyday communication and public life.
- Tharoor’s readers who want to explore his interest in words through a collection of essays.
Because the book is presented as essays on language, it is best approached as an invitation to explore rather than as a comprehensive reference work. The available publisher and bookseller descriptions establish its subject, but do not provide an independent assessment of its arguments or style.
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Book details and buying information
The Atlantic Books listing identifies the ISBN as 9788119635535. Midland Bookshop identifies Aleph Book Company as the publisher. Those details identify the book, but the listings cited here do not establish which formats are currently available, local stock or prices for a particular country. Check a retailer serving your region for current edition and availability information before ordering.
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- Over 40, 000 entries including English pronunciations given in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
- A compact guide to essential Spanish and English vocabulary.
- For ages 13 and up.
- Bi-directional: English to Spanish and Spanish to English.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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