The Old Dog and Duck: The Secret Meanings of Pub Names

Description

'Lively and intriguing . . . a testament to the nature of the pub as a focus for creativity, wit and yarn-spinning' THE TIMES From the Cross Keys to the Woolpack, the Bag of Nails to the World's End, our towns and villages are full of strange and unusual pub names. But what do they mean? Here Albert Jack reveals the fascinating stories behind our locals, showing how they offer insights into our history, culture, attitudes and jokes. You'll discover what the Nag's Head has to do with pirates; the connection between the Royal Oak and the English Civil War; why the Bishop's Finger points the way to a shrine; exactly who Mr Wetherspoon was; and why the Cat and Fiddle hid a subversive message against Henry VIII. With tales covering everything from Robin Hood to royal mistresses, pagan rites to the Peasants' Revolt and cricket to cholera, this book will ensure you'll never look at a pub sign in the same way again. 'An entertaining book full of stories . . . worth taking down the pub' METRO

Albert Jack has written a series of bestselling books that explore the strange stories behind things we take for granted: that's everything from nursery rhymes - Pop Goes the Weasel - to everyday phrases - Shaggy Dogs and Black Sheep. When not engaged in research, he lives somewhere between Guildford and Cape Town, where he divides his time between fast living and slow horses, neat vodka and untidy pubs. This is the book he has always wanted to write.