<DIV><DIV><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B>A new and beautifully illustrated collection of bitter, biting definitions to celebrate the centenary of <I>The Devil's Dictionary</I></B></P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ambrose Bierce's classic <I>The Devil's Dictionary</I> 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:</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B>accessible, </B><I>adj.</I> (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.</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B>collectible, </B><I>n.</I> Object which many are eager to possess, though it may not be attractive, entertaining, or useful. Not to be confused with “spouse.”</P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If you relish moral criticism of immoral behavior, <I>The New Devil's Dictionary </I>will leave you howling for more.</DIV></DIV>