author
Julian Sharman
Best known for a lively Victorian study of profanity, this little-known writer had a knack for turning unusual corners of literary history into surprisingly entertaining reading. His books range from the history of swearing to Mary, Queen of Scots and John Heywood’s proverbs.
1 Audiobook
A Cursory History of Swearing
by Julian Sharman
About the author
Julian Sharman was an English-language writer and editor active in the late 19th century. Confirmed works by him include The Poems of Mary, Queen of the Scots (1873), an edition of The Proverbs of John Heywood (1874), A Cursory History of Swearing (1884), and The Library of Mary Queen of Scots (1889).
His best-known book today is A Cursory History of Swearing, first published in London in 1884. It explores oaths, blasphemy, slang, and the social history of bad language with a mix of curiosity and humor that still feels fresh.
Very little reliable biographical detail about Sharman appears to be readily documented in standard online sources, so it is safest to let the books speak for him. What does come through clearly is a taste for neglected subjects, old texts, and the odd, vivid details of cultural history.