Foyles

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Foyle's Philavery
A Treasury of Unusual Words

Synopsis:

The word philavery was invented to describe this book: a collection of words chosen simply on the grounds of their aesthetic appeal. Some of these words appeal because of their aptness, some for their obscurity, some for their euphony, and some for their quirkiness. As a collection, they represent the fruits of a lifetime of reading and will delight all word lovers.

Reviews:

I happen to be one of those people who love these kinds of books, though unfortunately they frequently get lost in the melange of frippery that is located around the checkout counter at better bookstores. Anyway, Foyle, who happens to own such a bookstore in London, has collected a fair-sized book's worth of odd and distinctive words, his favourite of which is "kakistocracy, a system of government where the rulers are the least competent, least qualified or most unprincipled citizens"--a word we ought to use more frequently. -- The Morning News Book Digest 20080324 I have found many surprises in the Philavery -- I didn't know that alopecia literally means fox mange! -- Roddy Lumsden's Blog, www.booksfromscotland.com 20080324

Author Biography:

Christopher Foyle is Chairman, Managing Director and owner of Air Foyle, originally founded in 1978 as an executive air charter company. He is a past President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and became Chairman of the British Cargo Airline Alliance from its inception in 1998. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots, Chairman of The Air League, a Freeman of the City of London and a Patron of the Book Trade Benevolent Society. He has been a frequent speaker at conferences in the US, Europe and the CIS on air cargo, air finance, CIS aviation and virtual passenger airlines. In 1999 he became Chairman of his world famous family bookselling business, Foyles, in Charing Cross Road, London. He took over a declining business and having installed a new management team and financial systems is currently turning the business around to recapture the position and reputation Foyles once held. From 2000 its turnover started to rise again and in 2003/2004 it made its first trading profit for seven years. He also hosts and chairs the famous Foyles Literary Luncheons, founded in 1903.

Additional Information:

Related subjects: Vocabulary English language - Usage English language - Slang Language & linguistics Dictionaries Gift books