If you want to speak French like the frogs, you've got to learn to swear like a native. What separates the true French speaker from those who can only 'parler le francais comme une vache espagnole', is the correct use of slang, from simple colloquialisms to specialist terms of abuse.

'The Complete Merde!' is an hilarious guide to survival in everyday French as it is really spoken. With scurrilous chapters on sex, drink and those silent yet expressive gestures so beloved of French motorists and shopkeepers, it reveals the necessary vocabulary, explains its proper use and gives examples and exercises for the eager student.

With infectious humour and endless 'savoir faire', 'The Complete Merde!' takes the lid off the French psyche to expose the idiosyncratic attitudes of this proud and fiery nation who produce such a wealth of vivid and colourful expressions.

Remember, to be authentic is to be rude.