By Pete Silverton

Packed full of facts on all the filthiest words in the world, Filthy English considers how it can be that we have become more openly emotional, yet more wary about insulting others. And howit might be alright to say **** and **** but not ****** or ****.  Silverton considers why it is we have moved through the religious and sexual stages of swearing to the racial stage; why mother insults cut so deep in the Mediterranean; and how the law has evolved to police new forms of obscenity.

When the Sex Pistols swore live on tea-time telly in 1976 there was outrage across Britain. Headlines screamed. Christians marched. TVs were kicked in. Thirty years on, the same words are now almost media-mainstream – bandied about with impunity on TV and in the papers. Filthy English is the story of bad language over the last 30 years, charting its journey from the fringes of decency to the working centre of a more linguistically liberal nation. Silverton gives a clear, comprehensive and witty overview of swearing during this time, traversing the globe to pinpoint the watershed moments that have changed the public’s attitude towards rude words, including the FCUK ad campaign, and bringing us bang up to date with Ross and Brand’s on-air offences.

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Peter Silverton has been a journalist for 30 years, starting as features editor at Sounds in 1976, covering punk, going on tour with the Sex Pistols and Clash and later writing Glen Matlock’s autobiography (I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol). He has worked as an editor at Time Out, the Mail on Sunday, the Sunday Express and the Guardian, and written with asterisks for practically every music magazine and newspaper in the land. Silverton started swearing at the age of four and can now swear in many different languages, and does, on a regular basis. He lives in North London with his wife and children.

Published 22nd October 2009
Hardback, £14.99

Peter Silverton is available for interview and to write articles, please contact Lindsay Paterson for more information:
lpaterson@portobellobooks.com / 020 7605 1374

Tags: Bad language, Pete Silverton, Portobello Books, Swearing