Viva La Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Greatest Wits and Wordsworths - Hardcover

"A joyously fun compendium of wit and one-upmanship by the world's great riposte artists....A brilliant stocking stuffer."--Forbes FYI "If you've ever delivered a razor-sharp riposte or rebuff...you'll savor this collection."--Hartford Courant "Mardy Grothe's exquisite collection of retorts, ripostes, and rebuffs celebrates language in its most clever, precise, and hilarious form."---- Richard Lederer, author of Anguished English "Ever wish you could wow people with your wit? Viva la Repartee, by Mardy Grothe, tells you how. "--Dallas Morning News "If words could be weapons, this book is a collection of weapons of mass delectation."---- Anu Garg, author of Another Word A Day "Viva La Repartee is a spectacular feast of the most brilliant retorts and wittiest zingers ever delivered."---- Don Hauptman, author of Cruel and Unusual Puns and Acronymania "A glittering display of comebacks and put-downs from the funniest people on earth."---- Robert Byrne, compiler of The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said "It's a must for anyone who loves a quick word from a quick wit."---- Erin McKean, editor of Verbatim: The Language Quarterly

From the author of "Oxymoronica" comes consolation for anyone who's ever said, "I wish I'd said that!" in this collection of history's cleverest comebacks, wittiest retorts, and other truly great replies. Everyone knows the sensation of utter regret that occurs once you've hung up the phone or said your goodbyes, and that perfect turn of phrase or witty remark comes to your mind with absolute clarity much too late. "Viva La Repartee" pays humble homage to those brilliant and rare responses throughout history that were expressed at the perfect moment and delivered with an aplomb that will have you pumping your fist with sweet satisfaction. From politicians and authors to entertainers and philosophers, Mardy Grothe has assembled the ultimate collection of comebacks, retorts, rejoinders, and banter from some of history's greatest word-smiths, including Oscar Wilde, Woody Allen, Dorothy Parker, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, Albert Einstein, and much more. As entertaining as it is intellectually nourishing, "Viva La Repartee" is sure to arrest the attention of language lovers everywhere.