The basis of the 1978 British comedy film starring Monty Python member Graham Chapman. Arthur Harris is a happily married man whose wife, Fiona, decides to leave him. Devastated by this, he tries to commit suicide. After a few failed attempts, one day the doorbell rings. An "odd job man" asks if there are any odd jobs that he can perform, so Arthur decides to hire the man to kill him. When his wife returns, Arthur is unable to cancel the contract, and the man he hired still tries to kill him.

In 1989, deep in the South American jungles of Suriname, a former commando and Falklands War veteran discharged from the SAS found himself with a group of contract soldiers training a rebel army against a violent dictator regime. Things were not so clear cut in this war-torn country and as cracks began to appear in finding out who had the moral high ground, cracks also began to appear in the team itself. It seemed the leader of the group had other agendas which he was keeping from the mixed bag of former British commandos and French Foreign Légion soldiers. Now, as all-out war has got ever closer, this becomes increasingly difficult for the author, as he too, has not been totally truthful with the others.

For thirty years Jonathon Green has been collecting slang - the indefinable language of the gutter, the brothel, the jail, the barroom - producing a succession of dictionaries, most recently the three-volume Green's Dictionary of Slang, that have been recognised as the most comprehensive and authoritative ever compiled. In this fascinating memoir Green reveals that he first began collecting slang in the 1970s, noticing that the contemporary authorities (notably Eric Partridge) preferred the past to the present, unaware of the huge array of new slang being coined by the counter-culture. He ponders why he still does this strange, lonely job, exploring the satisfaction that can be gained by tracking down the first use of a term just encountered in one of the cheap dime novels he devours for research. The lexis leans towards pimping and prostitution, crime and imprisonment, violence and cruelty, drunken and drugged debauches: what does this say about the man who spends every day truffling for it? A fascinating look at how one man has built a lexis of 125,000 words that includes 1,740 words for sexual intercourse, 1,351 for the penis, 540 for defecation/urination, 247 for fat, 219 for vomiting and 180 for anal sex, Odd Job Man will delight all those who love the words that the conventional dictionaries leave out.

Who blows the bugle at the Kentucky Derby? Who dusts the dinosaur bones at the Smithsonian? Who sniffs dog breath for a living? Who measures the breasts of real models? ODD JOBS introduces you to the real people who perform these truly peculiar jobs. In 65 intimate portraits, photo essayist Nancy Rica Schiff captures the personalities and occupations of these oddball professionals, providing a short profile of each. A 20-year photography veteran, Schiff has spent the better half of that time discovering the behind-the-scenes people who do what others can't (or won't) do. No one can say that America isn't the home of the free, the brave, and the quirky, who will do almost anything to make an honest buck.• Profiles 65 of the most unique jobs in America.• Jobs include duck walker, coin polisher, doll doctor, and artificial inseminator.

An enthralling virtuoso debut that eloquently captures the loves and losses of a dying man 'All the elements of great storytelling are here, the mystic transports of Ben Okri with the intimate charm of Arundhati Roy ... enchanting' Sunday Tribune 'Beautifully captures with great tenderness and depth the eternal war between duty and desire. This is a love letter to Bombay and its people' Sunday Express Vishnu, the odd-job man in a Bombay apartment block, lies dying on the staircase landing. Around him the lives of the apartment dwellers unfold - the warring housewives on the first floor, the lovesick teenagers on the second, and the widower, alone and quietly grieving at the top of the building. In a fevered state Vishnu looks back on his love affair with the seductive Padmini and comedy becomes tragedy as his life draws to a close.

A scholarly reference to slang expressions from all parts of the English-speaking world includes coverage of twenty-first-century terms and lists explanations of word origins.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE • From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author, a sparkling novel about misperception, second chances, and the sometimes elusive power of human connection. Micah Mortimer is a creature of habit. A self-employed tech expert, superintendent of his Baltimore apartment building, cautious to a fault behind the steering wheel, he seems content leading a steady, circumscribed life. But one day his routines are blown apart when his woman friend (he refuses to call anyone in her late thirties a "girlfriend") tells him she's facing eviction, and a teenager shows up at Micah's door claiming to be his son. These surprises, and the ways they throw Micah's meticulously organized life off-kilter, risk changing him forever. An intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who finds those around him just out of reach, and a funny, joyful, deeply compassionate story about seeing the world through new eyes, Redhead by the Side of the Road is a triumph, filled with Anne Tyler's signature wit and gimlet-eyed observation.

Prepare for a delightful romp through the world of high society and hijinks with "Uneasy Money" by P. G. Wodehouse, a hilarious comedy of errors that will leave you in stitches and longing for more. Join protagonist Lord Dawlish as he navigates the pitfalls of love and finance in this uproarious tale of mistaken identities and madcap schemes. From chance encounters to whirlwind romances, Wodehouse's witty prose and clever dialogue keep readers entertained from start to finish. Themes of love, money, and the absurdities of the upper crust are expertly explored throughout the narrative, inviting readers to laugh along with the foibles and follies of the characters as they stumble their way through one hilarious misadventure after another. With its sharp wit and charming characters, "Uneasy Money" is a delightfully entertaining read that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Character analysis offers insights into the eccentric personalities and whimsical quirks of Wodehouse's colorful cast of characters, from the lovable but hapless Lord Dawlish to the scheming socialites who populate his world. Through their escapades and escapades, readers are treated to a rollicking good time that is sure to leave them laughing out loud. The overall tone and mood of "Uneasy Money" are both lighthearted and jovial, evoking a sense of joy and laughter that is infectious. Wodehouse's signature style and wit shine through on every page, creating a world that is as charming as it is entertaining. Since its publication, "Uneasy Money" has delighted readers with its clever humor and endearing characters. Wodehouse's ability to spin a tale of love and laughter has earned him a devoted following, making this novel a timeless classic of comedic literature. Whether you're a longtime fan of Wodehouse's work or discovering his writing for the first time, "Uneasy Money" promises to entertain and delight. Join the ranks of those who have been charmed by Wodehouse's wit and humor, and prepare to be whisked away on a delightful journey of laughter and love. Don't miss your chance to experience the hilarity of "Uneasy Money" by P. G. Wodehouse. Grab your copy today and prepare to be entertained by one of the greatest comedic writers of all time.

William FitzWilliam Delamere Chalmers, Lord Dawlish, or "Bill", makes his living as a London club secretary. His beautiful fiancée, Claire Fenwick, will not marry him unless he makes more money. Bill decides to move to America in hopes of striking it rich. Just before he sails, Bill is unexpectedly bequeathed a million pounds by an American he once helped at golf; the millionaire left his niece and nephew only twenty pounds, which makes him uneasy. He endeavors to approach them and see if he can fix up something, like giving them half the inheritance. He discovers that it can be difficult to give money away.