Overview

"A new and beautifully illustrated collection of bitter, biting definitions to celebrate the centenary of The Devil's Dictionary Ambrose Bierce's classic The Devil's Dictionary first appeared in its entirety in 1911. Its caustic wit and arch tone have ensured steady popularity and sales to this day. To mark its centennial, Rhoda Koenig gives us a new version of Bierce's mordant vision. Its myriad definitions, like the original's, individually expose hypocrisy, pretension, and vanity and collectively paint a mocking portrait of society at its worst. More than just a denunciation of jargon or political correctness, it lambasts old and young, rich and poor, male and female, left and right, and takes them all down a peg-or three. It deals with classic subjects but also defines new ideas and explicates new usages from ""academia"" to ""teamwork"" to ""women's magazine."" Among the many definitions inside: accessible, adj. (1) Of a subject, one that can be approached by the most intellectually handicapped, aided by the ramp of banality and the guardrail of diminished vocabulary. (2) Of a woman, a nice way of putting it. collectible, n. Object which many are eager to possess, though it may not be attractive, entertaining, or useful. Not to be confused with ""spouse."" If you relish moral criticism of immoral behavior, The New Devil's Dictionary will leave you howling for more."

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Praise for Rhoda Koenig<p> Legendarily witty. --Simon Callow Praise for The New Devil's Dictionary Ambrose Bierce's original Devil's Dictionary defined basic truths in such a way as to surprise, shock, infuriate, and, not infrequently, delight his readers. Rhoda Koenig's wonderful reprise attains that high standard again and again. --John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Bracing, provoking, often brilliant--I ran from one entry to another and was constantly amused and amazed. --David Denby, author of Snark So smart and mordant it must be read slowly and savored. A great idea, brilliantly executed. --Andrew Holleran, author of Dancer from the Dance The new devil in Rhoda Koenig's entertaining dictionary attacks with the same ferocious wit, cutting insight, sulfurous humor, and hilarious pessimism as that of the first. --Nicholas von Hoffman, author of Citizen Cohn Provocative, engaging, laugh-out-loud funny. A sublime satire. --Chris Ver Wiel, a

Ambrose Bierce's original Devil's Dictionary defined basic truths in such a way as to surprise, shock, infuriate, and, not infrequently, delight his readers. Rhoda Koenig's wonderful reprise attains that high standard again and again. --John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Bracing, provoking, often brilliant--I ran from one entry to another and was constantly amused and amazed. --David Denby, author of Snark So smart and mordant it must be read slowly and savored. A great idea, brilliantly executed. --Andrew Holleran, author of Dancer from the Dance The new devil in Rhoda Koenig's dictionary attacks with the same ferocity, wit, cutting insight, sulfurous humor, and hilarious pessimism as that of the old one. This entertaining book has Beelzebub's enthusiastic imprimatur, and from below--where Twain and Mencken swap wisecracks--comes Bierce's voice to say: Read, laugh, and learn. --Nicholas von Hoffman, author of Citizen Cohn Fine, braci

Author Information

Rhoda Koenig was born in New York City, where she became literary editor and then book reviewer of New York magazine. She has written for Harper's, the New York Times, New Republic, New York Review of Books, and Vogue.

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