INSULTS: A Practical Anthology of Scathing Remarks and Acid Portraits

By example and precept, the art of invective and abuse- old and new- is given full play. Here is the arsenal and guide for those who would be witty at the expense of others, for says he, ""There is no possibility of being witty without ill nature"". All kinds of sources are tapped,- history, politics, literature, art, music, pantomime, law, drama -- and he even gives some space to the soft answer that turns away wrath. I expected to find it simply an anthology; perhaps it might be more useful if such were the case. Actually it is chockful of anecdote, bits of history, biographical sidelights- and hugely entertaining reading.