Icon News & Events
The Horologicon is BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
Posted on 2012/12/03 in General, tagged as
If you do not want to be an ultracrepidarian when talking to your peers about the English language, do not perendinate – listen to The Horologicon by Mark Forsyth on BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week from today. Listen to Hugh Dennis wittily read from The Horologicon on BBC iPlayer here (also available outside of the UK) or when it is repeated at 00:30. Tune in at 9:45 am tomorrow to listen to the next episode. The Horologicon is available now from al… Read more »
The Science Magpie presents various sources of energy translated into their equivalent value on the Richter Scale
Posted on 2012/11/29 in General, tagged as
New Scientist reviewed The Science Magpie in their latest issue: ‘Simon Flynn’s cornucopia of curious facts, anecdotes and quotations … is sure to entertain and surprise.’ BBC Focus also had nothing but praise: ‘This book is a cabinet of scientific curiosities … [The Science Magpie] will stimulate good topics of conversation for the pub.’ Check out this infographic, The Energy of Richter, created using information from the book. View a full-s… Read more »
From uhtceare to lychnobite – Mark Forsyth talks about the most strange and beautiful words in the English language
Posted on 2012/11/28 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth, author of The Horologicon, is currently on tour and while visiting Blackwell’s Bristol this month he recorded some amusing etymological videos… Mark Forsyth introduces The Horologicon and explains how it’s structured – arranged according to the hour of the day – and talks about his hope that these wonderful lost words will come back into use, in the video below. Listen to Mark explain his previous book, The Etymologicon, and the e… Read more »
Make sure everybody knows that you’re a Theist!
Posted on 2012/11/22 in General, tagged as
If you have been following The Horologicon #lostwords campaign, you will know that we’ve been sharing images depicting Mark Forsyth’s favourite wonderful obscure words from his book, and encouraging everyone to enjoy, use, and share them. You can now let everyone know that you’re a Theist – one who is addicted to tea – with a Horologicon mug! Go to our Zazzle store to purchase, with many more fun wordy products to come… Find out more about the… Read more »
Mark Forsyth interviewed by Emma Freud on BBC Radio Four’s Loose Ends
Posted on 2012/11/17 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth was part of Radio Four’s Loose End programme this afternoon, discussing The Horologicon with Emma Freud (left), Clive Anderson and the other assembled guests. Much hilarity ensued and Mark was even caught out a few times not knowing the words in his own book. But many favourites came up in discussion including wamplecrompt, groke and utchere – have a listen again on the BBC’s iPlayer here, and there’s more about the book – available… Read more »
A new date has been added to Mark Forsyth’s ‘anabasis’!
Posted on 2012/11/14 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth is currently on tour, which will continue throughout November and December, talking about and signing copies of The Horologicon. A brand new date has been added – Blackwells Charing Cross, London. Mark will be giving a talk, signing copies, and answering questions. The event starts at 6:30pm. Go to iconbooks.net/anabasis for more information. Read an extract from The Horologicon here and find out more about it here.
Brazil nuts, anyone?
Posted on 2012/11/13 in General, tagged as
The Science Magpie by Simon Flynn is available now. You can discover more incredible facts, stories, poems, diagrams and jokes, plucked from science and its history in the book, but check out the infographic to the left – will it make you think twice about eating Brazil nuts? Click the image to view a larger version and see more fantastic science infographics over on sciencemagpie.com. Read more about The Science Magpie here and follow the Magpi… Read more »
Join our campaign to bring back wonderful lost words of the English language!
Posted on 2012/11/01 in General, tagged as
We have launched a campaign, alongside the publication of Mark Forsyth’s The Horologicon, to bring back wonderful lost words of the English language. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest as we’ll be posting Mark Forysth’s favourite obscure words taken from the book. Enjoy them, share them (#lostwords), use them! Read more about The Horologicon here and follow Mark on Twitter @InkyFool.
Why a few taradiddles help before quafftide: How ye olde term for fibs can come in useful for last orders. The Daily Mail’s final extract of The Horologicon appears today.
Posted on 2012/11/01 in General, tagged as
It’s November 1st today and therefore publication date for Mark Forsyth’s eagerly anticipated new book The Horologicon, his brilliantly idiosyncratic tour through the forgotten byways of the English language, unearthing fantastically obscure but useful words for everyday things. The Daily Mail have been publishing extracts all week and their concluding one appears today, covering the end of the day and the inevitable drinks and dinner after work.… Read more »
Spot the lolpoops, loobies and the lolygaggers in YOUR office! More Horologicon in today’s Daily Mail
Posted on 2012/10/31 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth’s The Horologicon – launched last night at Daunts bookshop in Marylebone, London and published tomorrow – is being serialised all this week in the Daily Mail. Today’s piece covers the working day, furnishing the reader with such invaluable terms as buzz-wig (a captain of industry), Rightsizing (or as we might know it, downsizing) and, the cornerstone of every British workplace, gunfire – or strong tea. Read the whole extract here an… Read more »
