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Cant - A Gentleman's Guide: The Language of Rogues in Georgian London Paperback – April 6, 2014

by Stephen Hart (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 93 ratings
Visiting the Underworld of Georgian London but not sure how to blend in?Can't tell a clapperdogeon from a running smobbler?Wouldn't know the upright man if he noped your costard with his filchman?You need this book.This fascinating guide will teach you all you need to know about the vocabulary of the Rogues of Georgian London and how to function in society at the lowest level.Along the way you will acquire some much-needed information and advice on how to make false dice; how to pick pockets; how best to rob a man on a horse; and where to find a good cup of coffee at 3:00am in the morning.An invaluable resource for any gentleman.
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  1. Print length
    194 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 6, 2014
  4. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.49 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0992492203
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0992492205
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Improbable Fictions (April 6, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0992492203
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0992492205
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.49 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 93 ratings

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
93 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides great information about 18th century London, with one customer noting its well-researched content and another mentioning how it serves as an essential guide to the era. Customers describe it as an entertaining read.

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7 customers mention "Information value"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides great information, with one customer noting it is well researched and written for casual readers of history, while another mentions it serves as an essential guide to the 18th century.

"...While not exactly a deep dive into the subject, the digressions offer more context, keeping this from simply being a list of canting terms." Read more

"...it both to enjoy the humor of the author as well as to learn these terms for fun." Read more

"A great way to learn about language and life in the history of London. An easy & entertaining read with real-life examples and historical facts...." Read more

"wonderful for research" Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining to read.

"An amusing, brief glimpse into the rougher side of Georgian England and the slang associated with it...." Read more

"This book is incredibly entertaining AND informative...." Read more

"...An easy & entertaining read with real-life examples and historical facts. Very glad to have this as reference material." Read more

"...It has insults, descriptions of things and is generally amusing to read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kathleen Buckley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential guide to 18th century and Regency period slang
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book for anyone who writes novels set in England in the 18th century or early 19th century, although depending on your precise period, a little research may be necessary to be sure a particular word isn't an anachronism.
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  • Jez
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing and Informative
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    An amusing, brief glimpse into the rougher side of Georgian England and the slang associated with it. Written for the casual reader of history as a tongue-in-cheek guide for time travelling tourists. Could definitely serve as a reference/source of inspiration for fiction writers interested in this period. While not exactly a deep dive into the subject, the digressions offer more context, keeping this from simply being a list of canting terms.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Zachary C. Heeren
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good for your favorite Rogue
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I highly suggest buying this for the Rogue in your DND group so they can finally speak Thieves Cant.
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  • Literary Mom
    3.0 out of 5 stars Buy it on Kindle
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    There is no index at all. An appalling oversight for a tome whose purpose is to define and explain vocabulary. If you want to reference a word, you must know its general usage. For example, if you run across "White Ribbon" and you fail to remember that it is a phrase that refers to drinking or alcohol, your search for its meaning will be long and difficult. The contextualizations are useful but I still found myself going to the OED for chronological purposes. I'm just flummoxed by the lack of an index! I wish I had purchased it electronically - then I could search it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Cinnamon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book is incredibly entertaining AND informative. I keep rereading it both to enjoy the humor of the author as well as to learn these terms for fun.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Tweedle Dam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun To Read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A great way to learn about language and life in the history of London. An easy & entertaining read with real-life examples and historical facts. Very glad to have this as reference material.
    One person found this helpful
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  • DPR
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing back a lost vocabulary
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book is basically a list of words and their meanings. It has insults, descriptions of things and is generally amusing to read. Really explains a lot of the things I've read in novels not quite knowing what they mean. Don't be a poltroon; buy this book so you can cant with the best of with the 18th century rogues.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jenny McIntire
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Great gift
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anthony Alexander
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I love the way this has been cast as a travel guide. The rogues’ vocabulary is all there (some brilliantly evocative) but also you get wonderful vignettes of people and places which will definitely be on my must-see list when time travel becomes available (if we can land people on the moon, what’s so difficult about last Wednesday?). Catch a rumble-tumble to eighteenth century London. Great fun.
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  • Empress
    5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE regency cant
    Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I LOVE regency cant, and this book is a fun introduction to the odd language of the Georgian underworld. Worth reading ig you are writing in this period, reading books set in this period, or just into history and linguistics.
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  • senot
    4.0 out of 5 stars Witty and informative
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    As a writer of murder mysteries set in 18th C England, I've found this handy, thematically arranged guide to the slang of the period invaluable.
    It's written in an amusing, accessible style which makes it an enjoyable read as well as an excellent reference tool.
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  • Kimball Warren Loo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Well done, friends ask to borrow it.
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  • Curtis Lemansky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Informative and funny. Great read for anyone interested in the period.
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