Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme - Hardcover

Roberts, Chris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1592401309 ISBN 13: 9781592401307

Publisher: Gotham, 2005

Synopsis

A history of the origins and meanings behind everyday nursery rhymes reveals the popular sport behind "Jack be Nimble," Humpty Dumpty's identity as a cannon mounted on the walls of a Colchester church, and "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary's" ties to the promiscuous court of Mary Queen of Scots. 50,000 first printing.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"An intriguing & informative historical trip through those odd little songs I sang as an odd little child. A must-have for anyone who has ever been younger than they are now."
--Angus Oblong, creator of "The Oblongs" animated series & author of Creepy Susie: And 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children

"A merry tour of the origins of favorite nursery rhymes--including wars, land grabs, religious persecution, red-light sex and worthless rulers. Chris Roberts shows that, for understanding our darker nature, Machiavelli's got nuthin' on Mother Goose."
--James Finn Garner, author of Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

About the Author:

Chris Roberts is a librarian in South London and the proprietor of F and M Walking Tours in London. He incorporates these stories into his tours, which became the inspiration for the book. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown began as a self- published project in the UK and has already begun to receive widespread publicity, including coverage in USA Today. Roberts lived in New York City for several years after earning a degree in history at Swansea University. He lived in Berlin for a while before settling in London.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gotham
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1592401309
• ISBN 13: 9781592401307
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224