Skip to main content
Digital Audiobook
The Language-Lover's Lexipedia by Joshua Blackburn

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

The Language-Lover's Lexipedia

Author
Joshua Blackburn
Narrator
Joshua Blackburn
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
Publish Date
25 September 2025
Run Time
10 hours 25 minutes
Format
Audiobook
Genre
Language: history and general works, Miscellanies and compendia

Not available in your country

We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Language Lover's Lexipedia written and read by Joshua Blackburn

FROM THE INVENTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF THE LEXICON BOARDGAME – THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL WHO LOVE WORDS AND LANGUAGE.

'A word-lover's dream' Stephen Fry

Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Learn the art of Scottish insults? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? Here you will find all this and more.

Part encyclopaedia, part miscellany, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a delightful tour of the world of words, from the origin of Abracadabra to Zyzzyva and the end of the dictionary. Meticulously researched and witfully written, each page is a lucky dip into the English language.

The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is catnip for curious minds. Inside, you’ll find Scottish Insults (you’re talking mince), Elizabethan Colours (like Ape’s Laugh and Lustie Gallant), the dangerous history of the Index of Banned Books, unusual mealtimes, Technobabble and over a hundred words for Scottish rain. There’s even a Dictionary of Small Things. Each entry points to other entries, so after exploring one rabbit hole there’s always another to get lost in. See where they lead you.

This deliciously original book takes readers around the sidelines and leylines of language. You will be sure to come away armed with an arsenal of linguistic knowledge to impress and entertain in all sorts of useful – and not so useful – situations.

***

'This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff' Lynne Truss

'This is a magical book - all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!' Milton Jones

Critics Review

  • A word-lover's dream

    Stephen Fry

  • This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff

    Lynne Truss

  • Oh, Good God – it's all here. The answers to all your language questions answered 1) accurately and 2) hilariously

    John McWhorter

  • This is a magical book – all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!

    Milton Jones

See more reviews
  • Astonishingly, addictively entertaining

    Benjamin Dreyer

  • The Language Lover’s Lexipedia is a veritable circus of words – words swinging from tent-tops, words teetering on tightropes, words jumping through flaming hoopla. Joshua Blackburn’s friendly, lucid style creates a treasure trove of learning dressed up to have fun.

    Richard Lederer

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details
Author
Joshua Blackburn
Narrator
Joshua Blackburn
Duration
10 hours 25 minutes
Release Date
25 September 2025
ISBN
9781526689375
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre
Language: history and general works, Miscellanies and compendia

Synopsis

Bloomsbury presents The Language Lover's Lexipedia written and read by Joshua BlackburnFROM THE INVENTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF THE LEXICON BOARDGAME – THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL WHO LOVE WORDS AND LANGUAGE.'A word-lover's dream' Stephen Fry Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Learn the art of Scottish insults? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? Here you will find all this and more.Part encyclopaedia, part miscellany, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a delightful tour of the world of words, from the origin of Abracadabra to Zyzzyva and the end of the dictionary. Meticulously researched and witfully written, each page is a lucky dip into the English language.The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is catnip for curious minds. Inside, you’ll find Scottish Insults (you’re talking mince), Elizabethan Colours (like Ape’s Laugh and Lustie Gallant), the dangerous history of the Index of Banned Books, unusual mealtimes, Technobabble and over a hundred words for Scottish rain. There’s even a Dictionary of Small Things. Each entry points to other entries, so after exploring one rabbit hole there’s always another to get lost in. See where they lead you.This deliciously original book takes readers around the sidelines and leylines of language. You will be sure to come away armed with an arsenal of linguistic knowledge to impress and entertain in all sorts of useful – and not so useful – situations.***'This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff' Lynne Truss'This is a magical book - all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!' Milton Jones

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.