Shakespeare : The Bard's Guide to Abuses and Affronts

Presenting a most civilized way to silence boors, deflect rudeness, and chide churlish lovers: Our mini book of insults culled from the dramatic works of English literature's most gifted wordsmith.

Shakespeare's enduring putdowns include "Thou art a very ragged Wart" "(Henry IV), " "Thy kiss is as comfortless as frozen water to a starved snake" "(Troilus and Cressida), " and "In civility thou seem'st so empty" "(As You Like It)." Why resort to vulgarity when a high-brow literary epithet does the job so well?