Heavy Words Lightly Thrown - Hardcover

Roberts, Chris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1862077657 ISBN 13: 9781862077652

Publisher: Granta Books, 2004

Synopsis

A fascinating and entertaining expose of the surprising stories behind well-known nursery rhymes. Was Little Jack Horner a squatter? Baa Baa Black Sheep a bleat about taxation? Is Jack and Jill about loss of virginity? And Goosie Goosie Gander about prostitution? This ingenious book delves into the hidden meanings of the most innocuous-sounding nursery rhymes, exposing a seething and subversive mass of sexual innuendo, religious hatred, financial hardship and political rebellion. It contains a multitude of the kind of surprising nuggets you want to pass on to your friends. It makes us look afresh at the words we parroted innocently as children, and provides an accessible lesson in British history along the way. Each rhyme (and an additional chapter on sex and relationships in nursery rhymes) is illustrated by a contemporary artist, varying in style from the traditional to the modern and bringing a whole new dimension to the reasons behind the rhyme. This new edition includes 10 new rhymes First published in October 2003 by the author (ISBN 0954482808), overnight success followed after an appearance on Richard and Judy.

About this title

Review:

‘An entertaining gallop... This ingenious book reveals the shocking stories and subtexts behind well- known nursery rhymes’ -- Publishing News

‘These apparently harmless ditties are seething with sexual innuendo, political rebellion and financial hardship... as relevant today as ever’ -- Daily Mail

‘This entertaining expose unearths the hidden meanings of the familiar poems with which many people grew up’ -- Good Book Guide

Review:

"Rumpty Dumpty! Or why those nursery rhymes aren't as innocent as they seem"

About this edition

• Publisher: Granta Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1862077657
• ISBN 13: 9781862077652
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176