BY THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHORThe perfect gift for anyone who has ever wondered about the unpredictable origins and etymologies of our Christmas customs! For something that happens every year of our lives,we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman,or that Christmas,etymologically speaking,means "Go away,Christ". We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularising sweet wrappers. Luckily,like a gift from Santa himself,Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities,making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way.'Witty and revelatory. Blooming brilliant'Raymond Briggs'Everything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff'Matthew Parris
Publisher: Penguin Books LtdISBN: 9780241267738Number of pages: 192Weight: 219 gDimensions: 187 x 120 x 22 mm
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Witty and revelatory. Blooming brilliantEverything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuffMark imparts knowledge about Christmas traditions from the essential to the (very) abstruse in wry and sardonic style. An effortless and enjoyable way to learn more about this fulcrum of our calendarMark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifullyThis year's must-have stocking filler...the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon.With his casual elegance and melodious voice,Mark Forsyth has an anachronistic charm totally at odds with the 21st century (The Horologicon)(The Etymologicon is) a perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family,or just a cracking all-year-round-read. Highly recommended.As good as promised - could have been thrice as long
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