Product Description

Long established as the ultimate reference for anyone with an interest in the English language, Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable features tens of thousands of encyclopedic entries examining the origins and significance of popular words, phrases, allusions and cultural references. Its delightfully diverse content includes cultural, historical and mythological references, beliefs and customs, proper names, literary characters, idioms and slang. First published in 1870 and now in its 17th edition, this ever-popular collection has moved with the times to include such up-to-date material as Beckingham Palace, Hogwarts and bling alongside wonderful stories from past and present.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101140 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1560 pages

FAMILY HISTORY MONTHLY
"An invaluable reference tool of extraordinary breadth."

Review
"the first book I ever bought for myself. It cost 10s and 6d which is a little over 50p. I've twice been asked to write introductions for later editions, which is like some little Scottish schoolboy being a caddy at St Andrews and later on being invited as a champion golfer" (Terry Pratchett THE GUARDIAN - From the Pieces of Me feature )

"I still feel affection for old Brewer, the "dictionary of last resort". Want to know how to write in Ogham? Or what a hymen really is?" (Simon Winchester THE WEEK )

"An invaluable reference tool of extraordinary breadth." (FAMILY HISTORY MONTHLY )

About the Author
John Ayto is a writer and lexicographer and the co-author of Brewer's Britain and Ireland (W & N, May 2005). His authorial credits include The Oxford Dictionary of Rhyming Slang and The Bloomsbury Dictionary of Word Origins. He lives in London.

Customer Reviews

Eclectic, Erratic, Eccentric … Essential!
Once upon a time, Brewer's used to sit on my bookshelf gathering dust. It was, I felt, the sort of book that, as a lover of reference books, one ought to own … but, I realised, I never actually USED it. Then, one day, I took it down, blew off the dust and looked up something, I think I was truing to glean some additional in formation about heraldry. Four hours later, I came up for air, having spent a blissful afternoon doing the literary equivalent of “surfing” - following one cross reference to another from Greek mythology, through theology, Harry Potter, sporting slang, Tudor eating habits, demonology, pop groups, Somerset folk lore and much more besides.

I then took the book to bed and proceeded to read it cover to cover (not at one sitting I hasten to add). I know of no other reference books with which one could do this without eventually dying of fatigue or terminal boredom. I emerged exalted, educated and converted. There may be little logic or reason behind the eclectic, eccentric, inconsistent criteria for inclusion and exclusion but, once you have grasped the spirit, if not the law, behind them you will fall in love with the book, occasional inaccuracies and all. This explains why it defies the internet, literary competition and remains in print to this day, loved like a faithful if slightly dippy ancient family dog by all those who have taken the time to explore between its idiosyncratic pages.

Excellent Service
I ordered the book as a present for my son-in-law before Christmas and it arrived well in time in perfect condition. It was well received a a present.

a must have reference book
I read this book constantly. Open it at random and you'll find something you didn't know before. It is full of interesting facts, origins of words, phrases, historical events, names... After another couple of years I'll surely qualify for the Mastermind.
Urpu