Word Games

Vadim Khrappa is a writer and radio journalist. Many know him well from the radio program "Chisto po-russki," in which he talked about the subtleties of the Russian language. For example, how over the centuries words and expressions transformed and became linguistic phenomena, what they meant, and how they were connected to the history of our culture. Why is "delight" administrative, and the legendary apple Adam's? What does it mean to be labeled a white crow? Is there any point in building castles in the air? What is "abracadabra" and what do candies and confetti have in common? What tone is called "mentor tone"? Khrappa's book is an exciting journey into the world of intriguing etymology. Often, the history of words is similar to a real detective story!