Brewer's Britain & Ireland HB John Ayto

Pick any spot in the British Isles and you're sure to find a touch of local color, as this authoritative guide so entertainingly demonstrates. The authors have selected 7,500 of the most interesting places and place-names, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch (scene of "Ivanhoe"'s unforgettable joust), to Wetwang, where builders recently discovered the 2,300-year-old grave of an Iron Age woman who was buried with a chariot. Tourists, scholars, and armchair travelers will revel in fascinating facts on everything from what's odd about the name "Avon River" to why Brits say "God bless the Duke of Argyle " when someone scratches an itch.

'This is much more than just a place-name dictionary. It is an A-Z of these islands, and explores the history and cultural associations as well as literary, musical, artistic and folklore connections of more than 7,500 places.', '...awe-inspiring in its imaginative sweep...

Mint condition large hardback

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