Search results for ""Author Caroline Taggart""

Following in the tradition of the British Library Philosophy of series, this full-colour book explores the fascinating and diverse influences on our Christmas celebrations.A beautifully designed gift book, this is the perfect stocking filler, written by popular and best-selling author, Caroline Taggart.

Read more less

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post______________________In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that: If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general? If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet? If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship? If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (another image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.

Read more less

Ever wondered if Cheapside really is cheap, what you do in Threadneedle Street, or who the knights of Knightsbridge were?Did you know that Piccadilly is actually an insult? And that Euston Road was built because there were too many cows on Oxford Street? Or that the River Fleet was covered over partly because of a drunken butcher? Take a trip down narrow lanes, through cobbled streets and crowded markets to discover the meanings behind the city’s place names. Meet forgotten residents whose names survive in the places where they lived, such as Sir George Downing of Downing Street, and uncover tales from London’s murky past that have shaped the modern city.From famous landmarks to forgotten rivers, grand thoroughfares to lost palaces, and ancient villages swallowed up as the city grew, Sunday Times bestselling author Caroline Taggart explains the hidden meanings behind familiar places. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the history of London and discover the people, events and stories that shaped our capital city, then come on a journey that will show you London in a new light...

Read more less

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post______________________The huge variety of colourful phrases contained in the English language are notoriously varied and, often, notably odd. From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (an image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), the fascinating expressions that make up our language are explored in Humble Pie and Cold Turkey.In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that:If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet?If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will prompt you to question the downright bizarre idioms we use to express ourselves, and answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.

Read more less

Dust off those cerebral filing cabinets and remind yourself of all those facts you really should know!From pi and Pythagoras to presidents and popes, prime ministers to prime numbers, literature to litmus tests, there is so much information from our school days that we have forgotten, or only half-remember. The I Used to Know That Activity Book is an enjoyable and interactive way of reminding ourselves of all those facts that we'd like to remember and re-learn, or those we missed the first time round.This useful book contains questions across all subjects, perfect to dip into and try your hand at whenever the mood takes you. There is space to fill in the answers and, if you are a bit rusty, all solutions can be found at the back of the book. An enjoyable, informative and lighthearted activity book for all adults who want to jog their memory and get their brain back into gear.

Read more less

We take summer holidays for granted but, back in the 1940s, the picture was very different. War had gripped Britain. Wave after wave of bombs fell, beaches were closed off, and petrol was rationed by the forbidding question, 'Is your journey really necessary?'But the summer days (with double summer time) seemed to go on forever, war or no war - and British families were determined to make the best of their paralyzed country.For evacuated children, this meant freedom that is unimaginable today: wandering at will, discovering wildlife in fields and ponds, foraging from orchards and hedgerows and swimming in the streams. Elsewhere, country estates were requisitioned for the war efforts, the tennis courts given over for training and the Lord and Lady of the manor sent packing! Dances attracted people from all walks of life - from ballroom dances to the thrill of the arrival of the GIs and the jitterbug.But the shadow of war was never far away; the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and the D-Day Landings in 1944 took place in June - with unreliable summer weather playing a part in both.In this book, Caroline Taggart shows us how Britons succeeded in keeping up spirits in spite of the constant devastation of battle. It is a revealing and entertaining collection of first-hand reminiscences from people who lived through those six long years. Touching, tragic, occasionally hilarious, it shows the British soldiering on as best they could.

Read more less

Accompanied by colour destination photographs and illustrations, mainly from the British Library Collections, this book is sure to inspire real travel and vicarious vacations alike.

Read more less

This useful book will provide readers with the opportunity to learn the things that were never taught at school, while also giving a refresher course on the main staples. From brushing up on Bible stories and classical architecture, to identifying different types of clouds, your thirst for knowledge will be sated and your education complete.

Read more less

Walking is one of the most natural and fundamental of all human conscious movements. It raises your heartbeat, calms your mind and tones your muscles. How ever fast or slowly you walk you are able to achieve well-being and fitness. Her Ladyship, star of Her Ladyship's Guide to the Queen's English and Her Ladyship's Guide to Modern Manners, turns her attention to another tricky area of modern life: how to run a home She gives you the proper advice on burning domestic issues ranging from everyday housework and how to behave around house guests to dealing with cleaners and childminders The perfect gift for anyone who wants to run their home 'properly' but practically Ever wondered how to fit the ironing into an already overcrowded schedule? Or needed advice on how to deal with house guests whose political opinions you abhor? In this charming follow-up to the popular Her Ladyship's Guide to the Queen's English, Her Ladyship dons the mantle of a modern Mrs Beeton to provide the answers to these pressing domestic questions, and many more. In her trademark lightly humorous but always elegant style, she discusses important issues such as day-to-day housekeeping and routines (exactly how clean do you need to keep your house?), dealing effectively but graciously with 'staff' (cleaners, au pairs, gardeners), how to avoid committing social faux pas when entertaining, and useful ideas for getting the children to help with the housework. The book is not aimed solely at people who live in large country houses, like Her Ladyship, but at anyone who feels in need of a bit of gentle guidance on running a home properly, whatever its size or type, while still coping with the demands of work, childcare and all the other perils of modern life.

Read more less

Choosing how to behave in unfamiliar situations is one of the many minefields with which modern life abounds. In this amusing yet practical guide to modern manners, Her Ladyship offers invaluable advice on every aspect of etiquette, both royal and everyday. With guidance on basic good manners in a range of situations, whether at home, at work or abroad, as well as advice on what to wear when, eating out and dating, you will never again worry about awkward or embarrassing encounters. If you’ve ever wondered how to meet and greet the Queen and other royals, how to correctly address party invitations or about elegant ways of sitting down, standing up and getting in and out of cars, this guide is for you.

Read more less

A re-issue of the popular 2017 hardback edition, The Accidental Apostrophe.____________________________________The trouble with punctuation - well, one of the troubles, anyway - is that too many of the experts suggest leaving it to the writer's judgement. What use is that if you've simply never been taught the difference between a colon and a semicolon, or where those wretched apostrophes go?'Engagingly written, the book is highly readable and will make you think about the way you use punctuation - and that's got to be a good thing' - Parents in Touch ____________________________________Caroline Taggart, who has made a name for herself expounding on the subjects of grammar, usage and words generally (and who for decades made her living putting in the commas in other people's work), takes her usual gently humorous approach to punctuation. She points out what matters and what doesn't; why using six exclamation marks where one will do is perfectly OK in a text but will lose you marks at school; why hang glider pilots in training really need a hyphen; and how throwing in the odd semicolon will impress your friends. Sometimes opinionated but never dogmatic, she is an ideal guide to the (perceived) minefield that is punctuation.

Read more less

No turkey. No fruit to make a decent pudding. No money for presents. Your children away from home to keep them safe from bombing; your husband, father and brothers off fighting goodness knows where. How in the world does one celebrate Christmas? That was the situation facing the people of Britain for six long years during the Second World War. For some of them, Christmas was an ordinary day: they couldn't afford merrymaking - and had little to be merry about. Others, particularly those with children, did what little they could. These first-hand reminiscences tell of making crackers with no crack in them and shouting 'Bang!' when they were pulled; of carol-singing in the blackout, torches carefully covered so that no passing bombers could see the light, and of the excitement of receiving a comic, a few nuts and an apple in your Christmas stocking. They recount the resourcefulness that went into makeshift dinners and hand-made presents, and the generosity of spirit that made having a happy Christmas possible in appalling conditions. From the family whose dog ate the entire Christmas roast, leaving them to enjoy 'Spam with all the trimmings', to the exhibition of hand-made toys for children in a Singapore prison camp, the stories are by turns tragic, poignant and funny. Between them, they paint an intriguing picture of a world that was in many ways kinder, less self-centred, more stoical than ours. Even if - or perhaps because - there was a war on.

Read more less

CRESTFALLEN at CHICANERY and CIRCUMLOCUTION? Have no TRUCK with TOMFOOLERY and TRUMPERY? Or OMNISCIENT about OBLOQUIES and OPSIMATHS?Whether you’ve answered yes, no or ‘sorry, I didn’t catch that’, 500 Beautiful Words You Should now is for you. It offers words that flow EXQUISITELY off the tongue; words that are just perfect for their meaning, like the lazy-sounding SLOTH and the heavy-footed GALUMPH; words that will make you sound clever, like DEUTERAGONIST and LETHOLOGICA; and words that are just fun to say, like LIQUEFACTION and LUXURIATE.It’ll tell you where they come from, how to use them and whether you’re likely to BAMBOOZLE anyone who’s listening to you. With occasional special features on great words for colours, words from the Classics and words that make you laugh, this is a book to delight BIBLIOPHILES and BLATHERSKITES alike.

Read more less

'This is a fascinating book ... it will no doubt be a great source of entertainment around many a dinner table' – She Magazine______________________________A Sunday Times top-ten title in 2008 and a bestseller ever since, I Used to Know That has continued to delight readers with its pages of forgotten facts from our school days.I Used to Know That is an ideal and accessible reference guide for adults wanting to brush up on their lost knowledge – or prepare for a pub quiz!If you've forgotten the capital city of Chile; the basics of osmosis; how to solve a quadratic equation; who wrote the famous poem about daffodils; the use of a conjunction or the number of continents in the world, I Used to Know That is guaranteed to provide all the answers.

Read more less

Ever wondered how to fit the ironing into an already overcrowded schedule? Or needed advice on how to deal with house guests whose political opinions you abhor? In this charming guide, Her Ladyship dons the mantle of a modern Mrs Beeton to provide the answers to these pressing domestic questions, and many more. In her trademark lightly humorous but always elegant style, she discusses important issues such as day-to-day housekeeping and routines (exactly how clean do you need to keep your house?), dealing effectively but graciously with 'staff' (cleaners, au pairs, gardeners), how to avoid committing social faux pas when entertaining, and useful ideas for getting the children to help with the housework. The book is not aimed solely at people who live in large country houses, like Her Ladyship, but at anyone who feels in need of a bit of gentle guidance on running a home properly, whatever its size or type, while still coping with the demands of work, childcare and all the other perils of modern life.

Read more less

'This "essential cornucopia" aims to inspire you to use uncommon words in their original contex'- BooksellerEver wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered. This book will inspire the reader to use uncommon words in their correct context, utilize the English language to its full potential, and test themselves on the words they think they already know. This is a book for the appreciator of correct usage, and contains words you thought you knew (decimate, caveat, nemesis), words you should know (euphemism, diatribe, tautology), and just a few that you might want to know (peripatetic, shibboleth, callipygian). Arranged thematically, each word is dissected, with a brief explanation of etymology, historical and modern usage, allowing you to fully understand and effectively employ the word in its proper context.For those interested in everything this eclectic language has to offer, who wish to celebrate its majesty and depth, this veracious cornucopia of knowledge will have you confabulating with the literary cognoscenti in no time.By the same author:9781843176572 My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?)9781782438205 The Accidental Apostrophe

Read more less

Wherever you are, whatever the company, the ability to engage and entertain your companions will always stand you in good stead. For many though, summoning up the courage to be heard in a crowded room, or seated next to a stranger at a dinner party, can test one’s nerves to the limit. What to say, and how to put yourself and your interlocutor at ease requires a range of skills and Her Ladyship is on hand to help you through even the most difficult of situations. From a garden party amongst royals to a business reception, this book covers common mistakes of conversational etiquette and offers countless suggestions on how to keep the conversation flowing so that you become the most valued of guests. Her Ladyship considers the art of conversation in all sorts of contexts, from a chance encounter on a long railway journey to making new friends, and also takes account of the fact that more and more of our ‘conversations’ take place via text and email rather than talking. She covers: first impressions (from greetings, handshakes, body language and eye contact), introducing yourself (even if you've met them before!), making yourself sound interesting, suiting your conversation to the occasion, dealing with age differences, the art of listening, dealing with bores, and dating conversations. Advice and case studies will help make you the essential guest at any get together.

Read more less

Quotations - or snippets from them - are commonly used in everyday speech, most often without the speaker knowing where they came from. From words of comfort to advice for the lovelorn, you can bet that someone, somewhere has come up with phraseology that perfectly sums up whatever situation you find yourself in - and put it more succinctly than you could ever dream of.In All That Glisters … Caroline Taggart presents some of the pithiest, wisest and most fascinating quotations we should all know, detailing where the quotation has come from and why it may be useful when searching for an elegant or informed line to illustrate a point, spice up conversation or impress one’s friends.Part of the pleasure of this book is to reveal the provenance of the well-worn quote (or misquote) - my cup runneth over, ay, there’s the rub, to err is human, the spice of life - but also to introduce some less familiar ones. Most of the q

Read more less

From the most profound questions of philosophy to queries of geography, science and string length, this playful book is full of information you never knew you needed, including: Whose life is it anyway? How much is that doggy in the window? How soon is now? Are you blind? and What shall we do with the drunken sailor?

Read more less

Tracing the development of green from the days when it was just a colour, web when it was something spiders made and trolls when they were nothing more threatening than the baddies in fairy tales, this is a fascinating tour through the history of the words we use every day.

Read more less

'See if you can tell your Tantalus from your Tacitus!' – The Daily Telegraph'This book aims to fill you in on the stuff you wish you'd been taught at school' – The Times______________________A Classical Education is a must-have for anyone feeling let down by modern schooling.How many times have you wished that your history stretched all the way back to Greek and Roman myths and legends? Or that you'd been taught Latin at school? Or perhaps you wish you knew all about the great inventions and medical developments that have made our world what it is today? A Classical Education provides all of these classical facts that modern schooling leaves out, and many more. Perfect for parents who wish to broaden their children's education, as well as for those who would simply like to learn or relearn the facts themselves, A Classical Education is informative and educational, but above all accessible. Subjects include: Latin and Greek; Logic and philosophy; Natural sciences; Art and architecture; Poetry and drama; History and Classical literature.

Read more less

A fascinating collection of the many unusual and vibrant phrases that adorn our language, looking at their origins and meanings. Don’t be down in the dumps if you can’t cut the mustard when asked the definition of certain phrases – this down-to-earth guide is just the ticket.This collection contains some intriguing and remarkable stories about our best-loved and most colourful phrases and shows the huge range of sources from which they originate. From advertising to the Ancient Greeks, from the military to meteorology, Kicking the Bucket at the Drop of a Hat takes us on a wonderful journey through our language’s history.With more phrases than you can shake a stick at, this collection will bring home the bacon for any Tom, Dick or Harry with a love of language.

Read more less

Great Britain has a long tradition of spectacular seasonal events, parties, pomp and ceremony. But times have moved on since the days of formal manners and dress codes and with many exclusive events now accessible to everyone, it can be tricky to know where to go, what to wear and how to act. Luckily, Her Ladyship is on hand to guide you though the social minefield of the British Season. This practical guide will take you on a tour of all the best events, including Chelsea Flower Show, Glyndebourne Festival, Lord's Test Cricket, The Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley Royal Regatta, Glorious Goodwood, Cowes Week and many more. Her Ladyship is always on hand to explain what happens where, giving invaluable advice on dress codes and traditional customs along the way. Insider's tips on getting tickets and what not to miss at each event make this the must-have companion of the Season.

Read more less

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?Can beggars be choosers?Is it always better late than never?Proverbs are short, well-known, pithy sayings that offer advice or words of encouragement and are used in everyday English without much thought ever being given to their meanings, or indeed, usefulness. In An Apple A Day Caroline Taggart explores the truth behind our favourite proverbs, their history and whether they offer any genuine help to the recipient. Did you know that The Old Testament has an entire book devoted to proverbs? Or that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb from falconry that dates back to the Middle Ages? Many proverbs are still in use today, including the very famous 'slow and steady wins the race', which derives from one of the many fables of Aesop. Lighthearted but authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were.

Read more less

From the Chelsea Flower Show, the Glyndebourne Festival and Glorious Goodwood to Royal Ascot, the Henley Royal Regatta and Wimbledon, the British Season is a social minefield – and who better to guide you through the ettiquette, dress codes and insider tips than Her Ladyship? The Royal Jubilee and the Olympics have shown the world exactly what makes Britain Great, and the UK is the current place to see and be seen. But there is much more to Britain than just pomp and ceremony – and who better to guide you through the social minefield of the British Season than Her Ladyship? This practical guide will take you on a tour of all the best events, including Chelsea Flower Show, Glyndebourne Festival, Lord's Test Cricket, The Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley Royal Regatta, Glorious Goodwood, Cowes Week and many more. Her Ladyship is always on hand to explain what happens where, giving invaluable advice on dress codes and traditional customs along the way. Insider's tips on getting tickets and what not to miss at each event make this the must-have companion of the Season.

Read more less

Exploring the gardens, monuments, museums, and churches with walks both urban and rural, from the Bronte parsonage in Haworth to Zadie Smith's North London and Shakespeare's Stratford, The Book Lover's Bucket List takes you through some 100 wonderfully described literary sites and landscapes, complete with colour destination photographs and illustrations from the British Library collections. Start with Chaucer, Dickens and Larkin in Westminster Abbey. Spend an afternoon at Colliers Wood Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire and take in the lake D. H. Lawrence described as 'all grey and visionary, stretching into the moist, translucent vista of trees and meadow'. Venture south to Cornwall and work your way up to the Scottish Highlands, taking detours to Northern Ireland in the west and Norfolk in the east - or simply drop in on the place nearest to you. Wherever you are in the United Kingdom, you're never far from something associated with a good book.

Read more less

'Will do for grammar what Eats Shoots and Leaves did for punctuation' - The Times_______________________A runaway hit and Sunday Times bestseller in 2008, My Grammar and I has continued to grow in popularity, becoming the go-to guide for grammar.My Grammar and I offers amusing examples of awful grammar, while steering you in the direction of grammatical greatness. Taking you on a tour of the English language through the minefield of rules and conditions that can catch you out, from dangling modifiers to split infinitives, it highlights the common pitfalls that every English language user faces on a day to day basis.Refreshing everything you should have learnt at school and more, My Grammar and I is informative yet entertaining: a must-have reference guide for any English language enthusiast.

Read more less