Skip to main content
Digital Audiobook
The Last Word by Ben Macintyre

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

The Last Word

Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
Publish Date
4 September 2025
Run Time
11 hours 56 minutes
Format
Audiobook

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 Last Word, written and read by Ben Macintyre

'A sprinkling of delightful nuggets about the uses and abuses of the English Language' Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year

'[There are] myriad delights in Ben Macintyre's musings on language' The Times, Books of the Year
_____________________
Do you know your geek-speak from your geek-chic? Ever wanted to put Humpty Dumpty together again? Can you distinguish Spanglish from Chinglish?

We adapt words from other languages, from slang, from developments in science, literature and art. Learn the advantages of having your own signature word; why the lifts in the House of Commons have posh accents; and discover the discreet art of the loophemism.

Witty and utterly delightful, The Last Word will tease, tickle and tantalise those who enjoy all things lexical.

Critics Review

  • ‘A sprinkling of delightful nuggets about the uses and abuses of the English language'

    Daily Telegraph Books of the Year

  • ‘After reading The Last Word you may feel compelled to tell a "fib" - a poem whose syllables follow the Fibonacci sequence - one of myriad delights in Ben Macintyre's musings on language. Discover the accidental poetry of e-mail spam and the literary joy of peculiar cricketing terms'

    The Times Books of the Year

  • ‘Macintyre is simply a splendidly well-read man ... These pieces come up fresh and even wiser, and all the better for being so collated'

    Observer

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details

Author
Ben Macintyre
Narrator
Ben Macintyre
Duration
11 hours 56 minutes
Release Date
4 September 2025
ISBN
9781526671950
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre
Language: history and general works, Humour, Social and cultural history

Synopsis

Bloomsbury presents The Last Word, written and read by Ben Macintyre'A sprinkling of delightful nuggets about the uses and abuses of the English Language' Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year'[There are] myriad delights in Ben Macintyre's musings on language' The Times, Books of the Year_____________________Do you know your geek-speak from your geek-chic? Ever wanted to put Humpty Dumpty together again? Can you distinguish Spanglish from Chinglish? We adapt words from other languages, from slang, from developments in science, literature and art. Learn the advantages of having your own signature word; why the lifts in the House of Commons have posh accents; and discover the discreet art of the loophemism. Witty and utterly delightful, The Last Word will tease, tickle and tantalise those who enjoy all things lexical.

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.