Planet Word

 Planet Word uncovers everything you didn’t know you needed to know about how language evolves: from feral children to deaf Tourette’s, fairy-tale princesses and wicked stepmothers to secrets codes, invented languages, backslang — even a language that was eaten! And of course the Del Boys of London with all their ‘sugar and honey’ and ‘porky pies’ make themselves known.

From the dusty scrolls of the past to the unknown digital future, will we no longer have need for a written language and instead communicate in pictures and symbols? With (heart) the first graphic to enter the OED, are we already well on our way?

In a round-the-world trip of a lifetime, discover all this and more across our gloriously, endlessly intriguing multi-lingual Planet Word.

John-Paul Davidson is a director, producer and writer for television and film.  He has produced/directed some of our most loved travel shows including Stephen Fry In America, Palin’s New Europe, Himalaya with Michael Palin and Sahara with Michael Palin. He lives in London with his wife and four children.

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He currently hosts the popular quiz show QI. His recent memoir, The Fry Chronicles, was a bestseller.

October 2011 | RRP $50.00 | Michael Joseph