Strange to Say

"[Warren's] curiosity and embrace of the unpredictable, as well as her delight in both the archaic and the homespun, animate Strange to Say, a tour of English that savors the language's mutability."―Wall Street Journal 

"Warren, a poet and teacher of English and Latin, draws on her vast knowledge of the English language to transport readers into the inner-workings of the mind of a philologist: someone who studies the origins of words and how they are used in written works. This fast-paced nonfiction book will be enjoyed by those who find humor and excitement in exploring languages . . . a great read for those who appreciate seeing the whimsy in words, as Warren remarkably achieves etymological entertainment."―Booklist

"[Warren] brings a poet’s ear and eye to Strange to Say, finding joy in the words as much as in their pedigrees. There is an artistry present in Strange to Say that I have rarely encountered in word books . . .  It is a strong piece of work on etymologies—a brilliant, holistic approach by a most gifted amateur."―Los Angeles Review of Books

"The author, a poet, is a sure and, indeed, entertaining guide to the evolution of words and meaning."―Harvard Magazine

PRAISE FOR DEBORAH WARREN'S OTHER BOOKS:

“Warren goes anywhere, inhabits anything: it is fun to see a poet so willing to embrace metamorphosis . . . A great book.”―The Millions on Connoisseurs of Worms

“Immensely engaging . . . Steeped in references to Greek and Roman history and literature, this book sings with an erudite yet accessible energy one might expect from a former Latin teacher. After finishing this collection, readers will definitely want to dive into the rest of Warren’s oeuvre.”―Booklist on Connoisseurs of Worms

"Not since Richard Wilbur has a poet combined formal grace, visual imagination, and worldly wisdom as appealingly as Deborah Warren. Whether she is writing about the largest subjects—history, love, the soul—or the smallest—housecats, Latin lessons, Cleopatra's nose—Warren, like the craftsman she writes about in 'The Glassblower," shows that she is a master of the 'possibility and prism' of her art."—Adam Kirsch on Dream with Flowers and Bowl of Fruit

"Deborah Warren's poised and meticulous poems deliver pure potential in small packages: an egg, a kitten, a bluebird. Each burnished object or creature contains a principle of growth; hence, even Warren's tiniest lyrics move us from one state of being to another . . . Warren is also a mistress of finely observed images from nature, art, and history. Finally, the voice that coveys these varied poetic riches—a voice by turns deadpan, fretful, rueful, playful—is unfailingly understated. Each poem thereby retains its integrity, freshness, and mystery."—Rachel Hadas on Dream with Flowers and Bowl of Fruit

"Ms. Warren's poems combine imagination with intelligence, music with emotional energy. The language sparkles in poem after poem."―Dana Gioia on Zero Meridian

"Warren is among the very finest American poets who still observe the strictures of meter and rhyme. She informs her work with lively feeling, wit, wisdom, and memorable music; she keeps us sitting up and interested."―X. J. Kennedy on Zero Meridian