Slang To-day and Yesterday
by Eric Partridge
Partridge was the leading English-language slang lexicographer of the 20th century. He was absolutely fascinated by cockney Englishmen
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“Partridge cut his lexicographical teeth in 1933, when he published this history of slang, Slang To-Day and Yesterday. This book is not just his own first essay into the subject, but also the first attempt at slang lexicology since John Camden Hotten’s comprehensive history and explanation of slang appeared in 1859…For me, of course, Partridge is the great mentor. I may not agree with everything he did, and as his successor I have naturally tried to improve on his foundations. But without his example I would have never even considered that slang was something to which I could enthusiastically devote my professional life.” Read more...
Jonathon Green, Literary Scholar
