The Language-Lover's Lexipedia

An A–Z of Linguistic Curiosities

Joshua Blackburn

$34.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bloomsbury
02 December 2025

Language: history & general works; linguistics; Lexicography

FROM THE INVENTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF THE LEXICON BOARDGAME – THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL WHO LOVE WORDS AND LANGUAGE.

'A word-lover's dream' Stephen Fry

Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Learn the art of Scottish insults? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? Here you will find all this and more.

Part encyclopaedia, part miscellany, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a delightful tour of the world of words, from the origin of Abracadabra to Zyzzyva and the end of the dictionary. Meticulously researched, witfully written and beautifully designed with hand-drawn illustrations by Caroline Church, each page is a lucky dip into the English language.

The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is catnip for curious minds. Inside, you’ll find Scottish Insults (you’re talking mince), Elizabethan Colours (like Ape’s Laugh and Lustie Gallant), the dangerous history of the Index of Banned Books, unusual mealtimes, Technobabble and over a hundred words for Scottish rain. There’s even a Dictionary of Small Things. Each entry points to other entries, so after exploring one rabbit hole there’s always another to get lost in. See where they lead you.

This deliciously original book takes readers around the sidelines and leylines of language. You will be sure to come away armed with an arsenal of linguistic knowledge to impress and entertain in all sorts of useful – and not so useful – situations.
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'This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff' Lynne Truss

'This is a magical book - all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!' Milton Jones

By: Joshua Blackburn
Imprint: Bloomsbury
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 200mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 300g
ISBN: 9781526689344
ISBN 10: 1526689340
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 02 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Joshua Blackburn is a writer, photographer and Maker of Things. He is the inventor of League of the Lexicon, the most successful word game in Kickstarter history and Waterstones Game of the Month. As the game’s Question-Writer-in-Chief, Joshua has become an accidental linguist, appearing on The Allusionist, Because Language, The Failing Writers Podcast and Butter No Parsnips. He also created the League of the Lexicon quiz trail for both the Hay Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2024.

Reviews for The Language-Lover's Lexipedia: An A–Z of Linguistic Curiosities

A word-lover's dream * Stephen Fry * This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff * Lynne Truss * Oh, Good God – it's all here. The answers to all your language questions answered 1) accurately and 2) hilariously * John McWhorter * This is a magical book – all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears! * Milton Jones * Astonishingly, addictively entertaining * Benjamin Dreyer * The Language Lover’s Lexipedia is a veritable circus of words – words swinging from tent-tops, words teetering on tightropes, words jumping through flaming hoopla. Joshua Blackburn’s friendly, lucid style creates a treasure trove of learning dressed up to have fun. * Richard Lederer *