Welcome to the illogical, idiosyncratic, outrageous linguistic phenomenon known as the English language. The story of how this ragtag collection of words evolved is a winding tale replete with intriguing accidents and bizarre twists of fate. In this eye-opening, fabulously entertaining book, James Essinger unlocks the mysteries that have confounded linguists and scholars for millennia. From the sophisticated writing systems of the ancient Sumerians through the tongue twisters of Middle English, the popular National Spelling Bee, and the mobile phone text-messaging of today, Spellbound chronicles the fascinating history of English spelling, including insights about the vast number of words English has borrowed from other languages (“orange,” “vanilla,” and “ketchup,” to name a few), and how their meanings differ from country to country. Featuring a lively cast of characters ranging from the fictional to the historically noteworthy (Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Noah Webster, Shakespeare, Bill Gates), this affectionate tribute to English spelling shows why our whimsical, capricious common language continues to hold us spellbound.
In Janet McDonald's powerful and funny novel, a smart and resilient young woman whose life isn't what she dreamed it would be learns that there are many ways to spell SUCCESS.
A Castle Perilous party leads to mayhem and misadventures. “I’ve enjoyed every book DeChancie has written!” (Steven Brust, New York Times–bestselling author).
What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?
Spellbound: Women and Witchcraft in America is a collection of twelve articles that revisit crucial events in the history of witchcraft and spiritual feminism in this country.
Life for Timber High senior Cindy Jones is sunny, with one dark spot--the year-old murder of her boyfriend's old girlfriend--and Cindy must figure out this unsolved crime, or no teenager will be safe.
Pursued by the demon who cursed him, Nicodemus must try to avoid spinning the world into chaos with his unique disability, the nasty inclination to misspell magical texts.
"The third volume in a trilogy exploring the life and work of the legendary director examines Hitchcock's life in terms of his relationships with the actresses in his films, including Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, and Tippi Hedren ...
In 1861, Clarissa Montgomery was beside herself with grief as her husband, Charles, prepared to enlist in the Confederate Army.
Spellbound by Margaret Way released on Jan 25, 1983 is available now for purchase.
Hazel Abbot spent her whole life unaware she was a witch.