The Oxford Book of Parodies - Softcover

The critic FR Leavis disliked parody on the grounds that it "demeaned" the writer being held up to ridicule. A moment of two in the company of John Gross's sparkling new compendium demonstrates how wrong Leavis was. Gross's book passes the first great anthologist's test - putting in everything the reader expects to find, and a whole lot more besides - with flying colours. (DJ Taylor, The Financial Times)

Endlessly enjoyable (Craig Brown, The Guardian)

Sumptuous collection. (The Oldie)

There are endless amusing trifles. (The Week)

Mr Gross's legendary gifts as an editor and critic are much in evidence. (Eric Ormsby, Wall Street Journal)

Substantial and richly entertaining anthology...Gross provides a brief but admirably informative history of the form. (The Sunday Telegraph)

John Gross is an excellent and unintrusive host...he has produced here a fine, diverting book (Seamus Perry, TLS)

Sparkling new compendium. (DJ Taylor, Financial Times)

His entries have enough comic vigour or elegance to be amusing even when one does not know the author being spoofed, and hilarious when one does. (Kevin Jackson, Sunday Times)

John Gross's new anthology of parodies in English (with a few foreign titbits) has samples both high and low of this diverse genre. (The Economist)

John Gross was a freelance author, anthologist, and book reviewer.