It's All in the Aphorism: James Geary at Hatchards, Piccadilly

The New York Times bestseller James Geary explores the history and power of the aphorism to celebrate "The World in a Phrase"

We are delighted to welcome James Geary here to Hatchards for an evening of language, linguistics and literature to celebrate his new book

The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism

Aphorisms are literature’s hand luggage. Light and compact, they contain everything you need to get through a rough day at the office or a dark night of the soul. Aphorisms, the oldest written art form on the planet, have been going viral for thousands of years - from ancient China to contemporary street artists - delivering the short, sharp shock of old forgotten truths.

This evening, James explores the aphorism by way of its greatest practitioners: sages like Lao-tzu, philosophers like Nietzsche, writers like George Eliot, humorists like Mark Twain, activists like James Baldwin and Audre Lorde, poets like Langston Hughes, and artists like Jenny Holzer and David Byrne.

We hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a fascinating and entertaining evening!