Brewer's Britain and Ireland : The History, Culture, Folklore and Etymology of 7500 Places in These Islands

by John Ayto and Ian Crofton

• ISBN13: 9780304353859
• ISBN10: 030435385X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: WN

Summary

Pick any spot in the British Isles and you're sure to find a touch of local color, as this authoritative guide so entertainingly demonstrates. The authors have selected 7,500 of the most interesting places and place-names, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch (scene ofIvanhoe's unforgettable joust), to Wetwang, where builders recently discovered the 2,300-year-old grave of an Iron Age woman who was buried with a chariot. Tourists, scholars, and armchair travelers will revel in fascinating facts on everything from what's odd about the name "Avon River" to why Brits say "God bless the Duke of Argyle!" when someone scratches an itch.

Table of Contents

Etymology: source language and meaning of each place

History: historical events (battles, sieges)

Legend/Folklore: local lore and legend

Literary Associations: from Malory to Martin Amis

Fascinating Facts: Everton FC used to play at Anfield

Quotations: 'Come, friendly bombs and fall on Slough...'/ 'Christ, I must be bored: I just thought of Catford'

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.