BASTARD
The Odyssey of a Word
The ULTIMATE gag gift for that BASTARD in your life.
At first glance, BASTARD: The Odyssey of a Word looks like a prestigious, scholarly text worthy of the British Library. Written by an Oxford DPhil and packed with “ancient” citations, it carries the full gravitas of a religious relic.
It is delivered with such a straight face that many readers will not even realise it is a gag...which just makes the whole thing even funnier.
- The ultimate gag gift
- Guaranteed to cause a scene, whether good or bad!
- A genuinely fascinating read (after the dust has settled)
- The Perfect 'Toilet Book'
BASTARD: The Odyssey of a Word is a mock-scholarly gag book that treats one of the English language’s most notorious words as if it were a priceless cultural artefact. Because, frankly, it is.
Whilst it is primarily a gag gift, it also explores the surprisingly fascinating history of how the word BASTARD came to exist in the first place, making it a genuinely interesting read in its own right.
An old-school insult with theatrical weight
BASTARD: The Odyssey of a Word has a more classic feel than some of the sharper modern insults in the collection. It is the sort of word that can be affectionate, furious, dramatic or faintly ridiculous depending on who says it and how much feeling they put behind it.
That range makes it a useful rude gift book. It can suit the difficult friend, the mischievous relative, the impossible colleague or the person who somehow manages to be both annoying and strangely loved. Presented as a mock-scholarly volume, the insult gains far more dignity than it deserves.
Best bought for
- Friends with a villainous streak
- Relatives who enjoy old-school insults
- Rude birthday gifts
- Fans of theatrical British language
- Anyone who is, at least occasionally, a complete bastard
The joke doesn't stop at the cover
Most novelty books stop at the title. BASTARD doesn't.
BASTARD is written, designed and presented as though it were a genuine academic publication. Across 121 pages, chapter structures, illustrations, quotations, references, footnotes and historical commentary all contribute to the illusion.
Many unsuspecting recipients who are gifted this treasure initially assume it must be a real scholarly work and may become genuinely offended, which of course only makes the gag even better.
View a quick flick-through of Bastard
Yes, it is real!
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