Summary

Stephen Fry hosts four programmes on the joys of the English language - as heard on BBC Radio 4. 'Current Puns' - Why does our language groan with the weight of puns? What exactly is a pun? And who, or what, is the Thief of Bad Gags? 'Metaphor' - The English language is chock-full of maritime metaphors: cock up, taken aback, chip on your shoulder and show a leg. And, with the help of a Greek removals firm, we also find the origin of the word 'metaphor'. 'Quotation' - The uses and misuses of quotations are revealed, and there is also a frank confession from a quotation compiler, which we cannot divulge here. 'Cliché' - Featuring sick parrots and the cliché crisis that affected the writing of Flaubert, Joyce and Eliot, and helped shape modern language and culture. ' This four-programme set is an utter delight and quite fascinating' - South Wales Argus