Synopses & Reviews
The terrifying events that befell the first Sleeping Beauty when she finally woke up, how Snow White's stepmother really died, and who the wolf actually was in Little Red Riding Hood—the true stories behind beloved nursery rhymes and fairy tales
Until recently, weird tales of fairy curses and flesh-eating ogres were considered suitable bedtime reading. And the strange-sounding and sometimes violent rhymes we learned by rote were often taught to us in school. But have you ever asked yourself what on earth they were about? And what exactly were the morals and lessons we were meant to learn from them? This book delves into the origins of the best-known rhymes and tales to uncover a legacy of folk superstition, rotten royal families, execution, child marriage, cannibalism, and the multitude of other random acts of cruelty that make up any classic treasury. You’ll learn about the bloody history of "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary;" why Margery Daw, the subject of an innocent-seeming seesaw game, was accused of being a "dirty slut;" how pretending to decapitate your little friends to the tune of "Oranges and Lemons" became an acceptable pastime; and the origins of other favorite bedtime rhymes and tales.
Review
“A new book, I Told You I Was Ill by Liz Evers, has uncovered the funniest gags to do with the darkest subject.” —Sun on I Told You I Was Ill
Review
"This clever little book is a satisfying page-turner and will find a ready readership among those with a scientific mind-set and anyone concerned with the history of time." —Library Journal
Synopsis
Beautifully packaged, this book examines the people and places behind time's inventions, as well as reveals oodles of quirky facts related to timekeeping From the ice-age recordings of moon cycles and the earliest calendars, to modern wristwatches and quantum clocks, time and its effects have always enthralled mankind. People have spent centuries developing new ways of measuring time, describing it and quantifying it, and such methods have given rise to some of the most technically and aesthetically beautiful devices ever invented. This book is a tribute to timekeeping in its many forms and takes in the most significant creations as well as countless time trivia. Peppered with time-related anecdotes and quotes, this is an essential handbook for anyone fascinated by the fourth dimension.
Synopsis
Bringing together a holy host of the world's stupidest deaths, strange send-offs, bizarre wills, and hilarious headstones, this is a side-splitting book that dares to laugh in the face of deathDeath may be bleak but—rest in peace—there is nothing gloomy about this curious compendium of tales of the departed. This book that looks at the funny side of one of life's certainties, recounting stories of inventors done in by their own inventions, actors expiring on stage, and extraordinarily elaborate fake death plots. With advice on planning your big finish and how to attract the crowds at your funeral, as well as inspirational anecdotes involving extremely wealthy animals, no headstone is left unturned in the quest for hilarity. From funeral facts and famous last words, to musings on the afterlife, all that is witty and wry about kicking the bucket is presented here for your amusement.
About the Author
Liz Evers is a writer and is the author of I Told You I Was Ill: Dying for a Laugh, I Used to Know That: Shakespeare, and It's About Time.