A couple of years ago, the british actor and wit stephen fry published a podcast titled dont mind your language, in which he discussed the origins of his own linguistic style. I loved this particular essay on language and i thought it. Stephen john fry born 24 august 1957 is an english actor, comedian and writer. This part of the essay, a few polemical paragraphs about common grammatical peeves largely inspired by the books of linguists such as. More recently he presented stephen fry the secret life of the manic depressive, his groundbreaking documentary on bipolar disorder, to huge. As an actor he has been featured in numerous films, including gosford park, a civil action, and wilde, in which he played the title role, and in such popular english tv series as jeeves and wooster, black adder, and a bit of fry and laurie. Fry played the lead in the film wilde, was melchett in the blackadder television series and was the host of celebrity comedy trivia show, qi. Among his countless occupations, stephen fry acts, writes scripts, performs comedy, writes books, broadcasts on the radio, writes plays, presents television programs, and writes poetry. Fry s planet word is a documentary series about language. He hosted over 180 episodes of qi, and narrated the audio versions of the harry potter novels. Stephen fry on language and grammar pedantry the scholarly.
Stephen fry bibliography and filmography wikipedia. Dont mind your language official site of stephen fry. Fry is very persuasive as always when he casually sideswipes the idea that clarity requires attention to which words are used, but all he brings in support of that idea is his own assertion that its so. Stephen fry since january 1984 when i bought my first apple macintosh, through the dark late 80s and mid 90s when the company had all but 3% of the personal computer market, i have developed the thickest of skins when it comes to applehaters. Words, it seems, have served him well, or, rather, hes made industrious use of them. Spalding gray stephen fry is one of the great originals. May 25, 2011 a couple of years ago, the british actor and wit stephen fry published a podcast titled dont mind your language, in which he discussed the origins of his own linguistic style. National treasure and renowned wit stephen fry explores the highways and byways of the english language in these celebrated programmes. Stephen fry is an awardwinning comedian, actor, presenter and director. Stephen fry is an awardwinning writer, comedian, actor, and director. You can also find the file on itunes by searching the name stephen frys podgrams. Everyone of a certain age has read or used bullock and hamilton, and they continue to be valuable if humorless references.
Besides his writing, stephen works as a managing director at a private equity firm in florida. He rose to fame alongside hugh laurie in a bit of fry and laurie which he cowrote with laurie and jeeves and wooster, and was unforgettable as captain melchett in blackadder. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of heroes, written and read by stephen fry. A retelling of the myths of ancient greece by stephen fry michael joseph. Stephen frys humor, excellent writing style, and strong knowledge of greek and roman mythology combine to make this book a great read as well as a great reference. Get the audible audio editions of the frys english delight series from the. Thanks to stephen fry for mentioning this video on his twitter account, rather exciting. Stephen fry, language enthusiast, defends the unnecessary. Stephen frys language nazis just a few thoughts about language, spelling, grammar and nazis on this monday morning grrlscientist.
Jul 26, 2018 discover book depositorys huge selection of stephen fry books online. I very much recommend this book, it is a great listen. Stephen fry is the author of three previous novels and a memoir. Since 1991 and the publication of his debut novel the liar, actor and comedian stephen fry has enjoyed an almost unique position in british culture, balancing his talents as an entertainer whilst being recognised as a novelist with heavyweight credential. Stephen fry believes that if one can speak and read english, one can write poetry. Buy frys english delight bbc audio by fry, stephen isbn. I write to you today on this subject as a way of welcoming you to. The plot involves the creation of an alternative historical time line, one where adolf hitler never existed. Making history 1996 is the third novel by stephen fry. His books include four novels and three volumes of autobiography. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading the stars tennis balls, a psychological thri.
The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from pandoras box to prometheuss fire, and transforms the adventures of zeus and the olympians. Other theories touching on the nature and origins of language that have had some vogue include that of professor jaynes 1976 book the. The book won the sidewise award for alternate history. Stephen fry since 1991 and the publication of his debut novel the liar, actor and comedian stephen fry has enjoyed an almost unique position in british culture, balancing his talents as an entertainer whilst being recognised as a novelist with heavyweight credential. Unlocking the poet within 8 likes lies, fictions and untrue suppositions can create new human truths which build technology, art, language, everything that is distinctly of man. He is the bestselling author of four novels as well as several works of nonfiction. While most of the book is written in standard prose, a couple of chapters are written in the format of a screenplay. Stephen fry is an english actor, comedian, author and television presenter. With hugh laurie, as the comedy double act fry and laurie, he cowrote and costarred in a bit of fry and laurie, and the duo also played the title roles in jeeves and wooster.
Stephen frys victorian secrets audiobook stephen fry. He is especially admired for his ability to desacralize even the most serious or taboo of topics. Frys voice is delightfully irreverent, cozy, smart, funny and insightfully honest. He even went so far as to host fry s planet word, a fivepart bbc television series on language, how we learn it, write it and sometimes lose it, and why it. Frys planet word is a documentary series about language. Polymath stephen fry argues in this weeks radio times that, rather than race, colour or creed, language is what makes people truly individual.
Stephen frys 1991 shift to fiction with the liar was met with universal acclaim, allowing the actor and comedian an almost unique parallel career as a novelist. The greek myths reimagined by stephen fry, hardcover. Stephen frey is an american author of thriller and suspense novels. Unlocking the poet within, stephen fry creates a veritable topiary garden of poetry, providing not only an encyclopedic overview of poetic meters and forms in english but a cogent, bracing and witty demonstration of their value. Anyone involved with such a wide range of the verbal arts must give quite a bit of thought to how language works, but fry. Stephen fry explores the highways and byways of the english language. Writing in the age of putin 1 episode 20 stephen frys 100 greatest gadgets 3 episodes 20112012 this is sport relief 1 episode 2012. Apr 11, 2014 thoughts on stephen fry on language and grammar pedantry well, yes and no. Everyone of a certain age has read or used bullock and hamilton, and they. The book for the tv series presented by the wordmaster stephen fry.
Fifty states and the man who set out to see them all. Stephen fry in america 2008 and last chance to see 2009. Stephen fry takes on the language pedants the globe and mail. Stephen fry was as usual brilliant and you could hear his passion and intrigue come across within his narration. For a look into the world of private schooling, with a loose connection to mr. A search query can be a title of the book, a name of the author, isbn or anything else. The series was produced and directed by johnpaul davidson who worked with fry on two other documentaries.
May 28, 2019 but stephen fry, the man who narrated all 11 audiobooks, does have one specific line he would change which has appeared throughout the books, and thats because he couldnt say it. Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heartstirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils or outwitted scheming vengeful gods quite as stylishly and triumphantly as greek heroes. The common theme of many of his novels is that they take place in the financial world, although he has also written spy novels. Ancient greek mythology book for adults, modern telling of classical greek myths book stephen frys greek myths 1 stephen fry 4. Stephen fry books list of books by author stephen fry. Book club genres all book club genres sorting by best selling this month.
Stephen fry hosts four programmes on the joys of the english language as heard on bbc radio 4. Stephen fry s humor, excellent writing style, and strong knowledge of greek and roman mythology combine to make this book a great read as well as a great reference. The book bills itself as the story of language from the earliest grunts to twitter and beyond, but it is not really an introduction to linguistics, and certainly not a. But stephen fry, the man who narrated all 11 audiobooks, does have one specific line he would change which has appeared throughout the books, and thats because he couldnt say it. His and hugh lauries comedy show a bit of fry and laurie featured linguistically themed sketches. Harry potter and the philosophers stone audiobook 1. Stephen fry from feral children to fairytale princesses, secrets codes, invented languages even a language that was eaten. Witty, brilliant, and featuring a close attention to the play of language, his debut set an enviable stall for the bestsellers that followed. Stephen fry, in full stephen john fry, born august 24, 1957, london, england, british actor, comedian, author, screenwriter, and director, known especially for his virtuosic command and comical manipulation of the english languagein both speech and writing. Written and presented by stephen fry, five hourlong episodes were first broadcast in september and october 2011 on bbc two and bbc hd.
Quotations by stephen fry, british comedian, born august 24, 1957. That was highly entertaining and insightful look at victorian england. Apr 03, 2020 stephen fry, british actor, comedian, author, screenwriter, and director, known especially for his virtuosic command and comical manipulation of the english languagein both speech and writing. National treasure and renowned wit stephen fry explores the highways and. Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the greek myths, stylishly retold by stephen fry. Discover book depositorys huge selection of stephen fry books online. A search query can be a title of the book, a name of the author, isbn or. Feb 01, 20 for a look into the world of private schooling, with a loose connection to mr. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
He rose to fame alongside hugh laurie in a bit of fry and laurie which he cowrote with laurie and jeeves and wooster, and was unforgettable as general melchett in blackadder. Oct 25, 2010 stephen fry s language nazis just a few thoughts about language, spelling, grammar and nazis on this monday morning grrlscientist. Writing is all about communicating, and that demands clarity. In each episode, fry explores the oddities and celebrates the curiosities of the language we use. The three simple words stephen fry couldnt say while.
1481 1059 130 1134 938 656 1374 870 263 318 546 95 622 1112 978 523 366 31 1219 575 302 1020 770 1299 1058 545 1662 862 1533 1521 604 912 276 1043 1130 358 1200 179 968