Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet

An English Language Miscellany

David Crystal

$32.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Chambers
01 February 2026

Language: history & general works; linguistics

What do a comic alphabet, a glorious lipogram and a wellerism have in common?

Or, an audit of accountants, an illusion of magicians, and an intrusion of spammers?

And do you know how Shakespeare pronounced his name?

Quirky, original, amusing and enlightening, this charming English Language Miscellany from David Crystal, one of the greatest British linguists of our time, offers fascinating observations on random, weird and witty words and expressions, collected over a number of years.

Following the tradition of the Victorian miscellany and cabinets of curiosities, the 150+ random entries reveal the global, national, contemporary and historical impact of language, and will appeal to word lovers and fun-fact-fiends alike.

Showcasing linguistic creativity in all its glory, and featuring a wide range of topics that reflect current language issues, such as accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, everyday usage, and language change, this book provides a playful, entertaining and informative read on the bizarre nature of language.

By: David Crystal
Imprint: Chambers
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 200mm, Width: 132mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 300g
ISBN: 9781399823890
ISBN 10: 1399823892
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 01 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT/ESL , ELT Advanced , Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

David Crystal, OBE, is known throughout the world as a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster on language and linguistics. He has written or edited over 100 books and published numerous articles for scholarly, professional, and general readerships on the history and development of English, including The Stories of English, How Language Works, and Evolving English. He has also published many works on Shakespeare, most recently co-authoring Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life (Chambers, 2023). An honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Bangor, David works from his home in Holyhead, North Wales. His autobiographical memoir, Just a Phrase I'm Going Through, appeared in 2009, and he lives online at www.davidcrystal.com.