Pop Goes the Weasel - The Secret Meanings of Nursery Rhymes

Informationen zum Autor When not engaged in research, Albert Jack lives somewhere between Guildford and Cape Town, where he divides his time between fast living and slow horses, neat vodka and untidy pubs. Klappentext I n Pop Goes the Weasel , Albert Jack explores the strange and fascinating histories behind the nursery rhymes we thought we knew, showing that their real meanings are far from innocent. Who were Mary Quite Contrary and Georgie Porgie? How could Hey Diddle Diddle offer an essential astronomy lesson? And if Ring a Ring a Roses isn't about catching the plague, then what is it really about? This ingenious book delves into the hidden meanings of the nursery rhymes and songs we all know so well and discovers all kinds of strange tales ranging from Viking raids to firewalking and from political rebellion to slaves being smuggled to freedom. From the grim true story behind 'Oranges and Lemons' to the deadly secrets of Mary Quite Contrary's garden, and from how Lucy Locket lost more than her pocket to why Humpty Dumpty wasn't egg-shaped at all, Pop Goes the Weasel is a compendium of surprising stories you won't be able to resist passing on to everyone you know. >   Daily Mirror >   Guardian >   The Times Albert Jack has become something of a publishing phenomenon, clocking up hundreds of thousands of sales with his series of bestselling adventures tracing the fantastic stories behind everyday phrases ( Red Herrings and White Elephants ), the world's great mysteries ( Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs ) and nursery rhymes ( Pop Goes the Weasel ). Zusammenfassung Who were Mary Quite Contrary and Georgie Porgie? How could Hey Diddle Diddle offer an essential astronomy lesson? And if Ring a Ring a Roses isn't about catching the plague, then what is it really about? This title explores the strange histories behind the nursery rhymes we thought we knew, showing that their real meanings are far from innocent....

Product details

• Authors: Albert Jack, Jack Albert
• Publisher: Penguin Books Uk
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 07.10.2010
• EAN: 9780141030982
• ISBN: 978-0-14-103098-2
• No. of pages: 320
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 197 mm x 19 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Comic, cartoon, humour, satire; LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology, Sociology: customs & traditions, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Customs & Traditions, Folklore, myths & legends, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Social and cultural history, Historical & comparative linguistics, Folklore, myths and legends, Cultural studies: customs and traditions, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Historical and comparative linguistics