Icon News & Events
Martin Bell, Jon Snow … and Idi Amin
Posted on 2011/12/22 in General, tagged as
Earlier this autumn Icon published Martin Bell’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, a collection of ‘light and dark verse’, much of which is autobiographical and therefore especially interesting to read. One the highlights is a poem entitled ‘Idi Amin’: Idi Amin President Idi Amin of Uganda married his fifth wife, Sarah, at the OAU Summit in Kampala in 1975. In fifty years I never played the hero And never was one either, more’s the pity; In derring-do my… Read more »
All you need to know about the meaning of Christmas
Posted on 2011/12/22 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth, author of Amazon.co.uk’s number 1 bestseller [stop bragging – ed] The Etymologicon, writes today in the Scotsman about the origins of festive words. Mark reveals that turkeys have nothing directly to do with Turkey, Advent starts in late November, Xmas is the proper spelling of Christmas and much more… Today’s episode of his book on BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week looks at the link between Jack Robinson, Thomas Derrick and Dr Guill… Read more »
The Etymologicon beats Steve Jobs to be No.1 on Amazon
Posted on 2011/12/21 in General, tagged as
We don’t usually shout about this sort of thing, but The Etymologicon is Amazon.co.uk’s bestselling book as of 3pm today (yes, that’s it, just above Steve Jobs biography). If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language, taking in monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes, and explaining precisely what the Roll… Read more »
Icon Staff Books of the Year Part 4
Posted on 2011/12/21 in General, tagged as
Introducing Slavoj Zizek Chosen by Andrew Furlow, Sales and Marketing Director ‘Introducing – Icon’s graphic guide series – were the books I most loved about Icon before I joined and the latest new title, on the Slovenian maverick philosopher Slavoj Zizek is a really brilliant example of what makes the series so unique. Zizek – who attracts audiences that most popstars would be proud of – can be oblique and confusing. But author Christopher Kul-W… Read more »
Icon Staff Books of the Year Part 3
Posted on 2011/12/20 in General, tagged as
The Epigenetics Revolution Chosen by Simon Flynn, Managing Director ‘For anyone interested in how our genes affect our lives, and how our lives affect our genes, The Epigenetics Revolution is an absolute must. This is popular science as it should be; a book that bridges brilliantly the world of cutting-edge science and its implications for all living things, especially the human race. Discover where science currently is in understanding how two g… Read more »
Icon Staff Books of the Year Part 2
Posted on 2011/12/19 in General, tagged as
Written in Stone Chosen by Harry Scoble, Editor, as his Book of the Year ‘If I had to pick just one reason why I like this book it would be this: whales with legs. Yes, really. But the strange, semi-aquatic ancestors of modern whales are just one of the evolutionary delights packed in to a book that is not only the story of life on this planet but also a chronicle of the palaeontologists who painstakingly dug that story up and dusted it off with… Read more »
Family: Life, Death and Football by Michael Calvin – video
Posted on 2011/12/19 in General, tagged as
Published in January by our Corinthan imprint is Michael Calvin’s brilliant, gritty despatch from a year on the frontline with a proper football club, Millwall FC. It’s a year far, far away from the glitz and the money of the Premier League – his book should be essential reading for anyone for whom the beautiful game isn’t all about Drogba, Terry, Rooney and that whole sorry cavalcade. There’s more about the book here but don’t take our word for… Read more »
Icon’s Books of the Year Part 1
Posted on 2011/12/19 in General, tagged as
This year, we’ve got some of the mysterious faces who work the magic behind the scenes at Icon to choose their Books of the Year. We’ll post a couple every day this week in the run-up to Christmas, starting with Duncan, who recommends The Etymologicon – which is currently Book of the Week on Radio 4 (listen to the first episode here for the next seven days). The Etymologicon Chosen by Duncan Heath, Editorial Director ‘This is my favourite book of… Read more »
The Etymologicon guide to Christmas (Drinking)
Posted on 2011/12/17 in General, tagged as
Mark Forsyth, author of the soon-to-be BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, The Etymologicon, provides his essential guide to your festive libations, drinking the most etymologically significant cocktails so you don’t have to… Merry Christmas from The Etymologicon!
Will Hamleys not labelling their girl’s floor pink and their boy’s one blue help change the way kids view gender?
Posted on 2011/12/14 in General, tagged as
Cordelia Fine’s brilliant book, Delusions of Gender – the paperback publication of which was one of our highlights of the year – gets a mention in this Guardian article by Zoe Williams today. It’s an issue that few people have no opnion on – so get involved… and read more about Cordelia’s book here.
