THOMAS PODVIN’S FREELANCE WORK
Freelance writer - translator - Editor

A “cliché” may be defined as a trite phrase, one that has become commonplace or over-used. English is full of them and a better understanding of their meaning and proper usage can help make your conversation more accurate – and flamboyant.
In one of Cresswell’s colorful expressions she defines cliché as “a grand truth that doesn’t help anyone”. Fortunately, the author puts together the pieces of the jigsaw in this 1500-cliché dictionary and helps the reader to comprehend their origins, evolutions and usage. This collection of tired expressions collects examples from the eighth century to the twentieth century. That may sound tedious; it’s not. This book provides a fascinating history that’s, well, more fun than a barrel of monkeys. The several hundred hackneyed examples are illustrated with quotations from the famous and infamous. All in all, The Penguin Dictionary of Clichés is an invaluable reference book for anyone interested in the English language.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
Book courtesy Penguin Reference Canada
October 2005 issue

Qipao are amongst the most distinguished and elegant dresses ever made for women. They expose their sleek silhouette and embody the oriental exoticism that has fascinated Westerners for decades. In this book, private collector Beverley Jackson reviews the origin and evolution of this Chinese dress.
Equally a treat for mind and eye, the book is organized in three parts: Shanghai as an East-West meeting point; the history of the qipao; and the evolution of fashion correlated to women’s liberation. Shanghai Girl is both accessible and interesting, as Jackson manages to elaborate on the intricate relationships between Chinese dress, history, Western fashion influence, and custom and moral evolutions in Chinese Confucian society. True, the various parts are somewhat loosely connected; the author’s point isn’t always clear and digressions are frequent. That said, the book does offer some fascinating insights into culture and fashion and looks very nice indeed on the coffee table.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
Book courtesy Ten Speed Press
October 2005 issue