Miscellanies and compendia

Did you know that Beethoven made every cup of coffee with exactly 60 beans? Or that Shirley Temple always had precisely 56 curls in her hair? Or that the young Frank Sinatra practised underwater swimming as a way of developing his ability to hold long breaths? In Secrets of Success, Charlie Croker brings his proven blend of gripping trivia and incisive humour to the question of how famous high achievers reached those heights. We'll see Chopin sleeping with wedges between his fingers to increase

Did you know? *Annie Chapman's uterus and Mary Jane Kelly's heart were removed by the killer *A prince of England is amongst the suspects *Some believe the killings were covered up by the Masons The Jack the Ripper mystery is one of the greatest whodunnits the world has ever known. With a backdrop of swirling fog, top hats and dark alleys, it is easy to see why this fascinating tale still continues to capture the imagination. The Little Book of Jack the Ripper explores the world of Victorian Lon

The Sheffield United – a book on the Blades like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Sheffield United FC enjoy a notable history. Names such as Ernest Needham, Jimmy Hagan and Alan Woodward have worn the famous red and white stripes hundreds of times. As has the mercurial Tony Currie plus the infamous William 'Fatty' Foulke - a huge keeper who walked off the field at a whim and once dumped a forward on his head in a muddy penalty area. The Sheffield United Miscellany

Raymond O'Regan a lecturer at Queens University. He is the author of several history books, including Hidden Belfast and A Short History of Belfast. Arthur Magee has developed the award-winning walking tour, 'There is More to Belfast than its Walls'.

The Little Book of County Wexford is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange, entertaining and often-overlooked facts about one of Ireland's most historic counties. This selection, compiled over many years of research, includes little-known facts about Wexford's quaint villages and bustling towns, its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women, its music and poetry, and the events that have shaped it. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time

Explore Britain's dark criminal history through the fascinating objects that have been hidden away in the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard, a collection that, although world-famous, is so sensitive it is not open to public view. Each object tells its own story: the briefcase with a concealed syringe owned by the notorious Kray twins; the gun Ruth Ellis used to murder her lover David Blakely; a burnt-out computer from the Glasgow airport car bomb; a picture from the property of Dennis Nilsen of the

No city in England can match Gloucester's passion for the game of rugby. The streets are festooned in cherry and white on match days and that famous cry of 'Glaw . . . sterrr' can be heard far beyond the club's Kingsholm ground. This book illustrates what makes Gloucester Rugby Club so special. It features revealing and humorous interviews with some of the greats (including, to name but a few, Mike Teague, Andy Deacon and Ian Smith), historical facts, trivia, stats and stories, told by those who

The ultimate book of Blues trivia, The Man City Miscellany is full of weird and wonderful facts. Including:

* The only goalkeeper to have scored for City, * The name of Clive Allen's dog, * The identity of the City player who played with a toothpick in the corner of his mouth, * Who is the 'Invisible Man' the City fans sing about?
"I rang my secretary and said 'what time do we kick off tonight?' and she said 'every 10 minutes.'" - Alan Ball during his troubled re

Kate Gomez works in community development in Lichfield and writes the popular local history blog, lichfieldlore.co.uk as well as running the social history group Lichfield Discovered, which offers a variety of walks and visits to places of interest in and around Staffordshire.

The St Helens Miscellany is the definitive set text for every fan of the world famous Saints. Packed with facts, fun, gossip, nostalgia and conjecture, it looks back the club's glorious history to celebrate the personalities, victories and controversies of one of the sport's biggest names. Handily pocket-sized to pull out in the middle of those pub arguments over who was the fastest, dirtiest or biggest, this book will not only tell you who scored the most tries, kicked the most goals or won the

Woher kommt bloß der ganze Sand am Strand? Wie viel Platz brauchen wir zum Leben? Warten Tiere gelassener als wir? Wächst man wirklich mit Aufgaben? Wie kann ich vermeiden, so zu werden wie meine Eltern? Und warum fangen Männer auf Partys später als Frauen an zu tanzen? Es gibt Fragen, die wir uns alle schon einmal gestellt haben, und obwohl sie so unscheinbar wirken, ist die Antwort darauf oft alles andere als leicht zu finden. Das »ZEIT WISSEN«-Magazin und der erfolgreiche »ZEIT WISSEN«-Podca

The Little Book of Liverpool FC – a book on the Reds like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Liverpool, the most prolific trophy-winning club in the history of domestic and European football, has a rich and varied history. Players such as Elisha Scott, Billy Liddell, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Steven Gerrard are synonymous with the club's success and their achievements, along with all those who have worn the red shirt, are envied throughout the world. This book ch

A rich, and indeed sometimes bizarre, thread of history weaves its way through the Bristol story. Find out all manner of things, from why a 'Bristol Diamond' would never be found in a jewellery shop to why local by-laws restrict carpet beating to certain hours. Along with a fresh look at city life past and present, these and many more anecdotes will surprise even those Bristolians who thought they really knew their city.

The Little Book of Tipperary is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Tipperary. Here you will find out about Tipperary's industrial past, its proud sporting heritage, its arts and culture and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this book takes the reader on a journey through County Tipperary and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and

The Little Book of Herefordshire is a compendium full of information which will make you say, 'I never knew that!' Contained within is a plethora of entertaining facts about Herefordshire's famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its literary, artistic and sporting achievements, customs ancient and modern, transport, battles and ghostly appearances. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the her

'War is a duel written large.' How did we get from clubs and spears to machine guns and drone missiles? What led to the human race firing projectiles across a no-man's-land, from straightforward warfare to spies and insurgency? Here renowned military historian Martin van Creveld has compiled a concise guide to the history of war in 100 key events, from 10,000 BCE to the present day: Stone Age 'wars'; Vikings raids; medieval conflicts; revolutionary wars; Napoleonic wars; world wars; the Iraq war

The Little Book of Wiltshire is a compendium of fascinating information about the county, past and present. Contained within is a plethora of entertaining facts about Wiltshire's famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its towns and countryside, history, natural history, literary, artistic and sporting achievements, agriculture, transport, industry and royal visits. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about th

Bruce Beveridge is a foremost authority on Titanicʼs exterior, working arrangements, and technical aspects of her layout and construction. He has been historical advisor to the Chinese company building a new version of Titanic. Steve Hall is a renowned visual historian who has studied and researched Titanicʼs photographic record for 30+ years. They co-authored the classic Titanic: The Ship Magnificent, and Titanic or Olympic: Which Ship Sank?, for The History Press, as well as being involved in

Das Buch mit dem Titel ›Die Erfindung der Sprache‹ bietet einen faszinierenden und umfassenden chronologischen Überblick über die Entwicklung der menschlichen Sprache. In diesem eindrucksvollen Werk wird die Reise von den primitiven Lauten der Vorfahren des modernen Menschen bis hin zu den hochentwickelten und syntaktisch komplexen Sprachen von heute nachgezeichnet. Der Autor nimmt die Leser mit auf eine Reise durch die Jahrtausende, beginnend mit den Anfängen der Kommunikation bei unseren frü

The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and loc

Did You Know?

- In 1884 the Circle Line opened and was described in The Times as 'a form of mild torture which no person would undergo if he could conveniently help it.'

- According to one psychologist, Tube commuters can experience greater levels of stress than a police officer facing a rioting mob or even a fighter pilot going into a dogfight.

- Underground trains have only twice been used to transport deceased people in coffins: William Gladstone and Dr Barnardo.

The Little Book of Galway is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Galway. Here you will find out about Galway's history, its literary heritage, its cathedrals and castles, its festivals and fairs, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this book takes the reader on a journey through County Galway and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into ti

Chelsea FC, as someone once observed, has always done what other clubs have done, but not necessary in the same order. A stone's throw from the King's Road, draped with showbiz connections, and not even based in the borough from which it takes its name, Chelsea is an enigma. Run by the entrepreneurial Mears dynasty, Ken 'electric fence' Bates and now the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the club has enough entertaining quirks and anecdotes to keep you entertained for ages. It is also a club wh

Born in Belfast in 1970, BARRY FLYNN has written eight books of Irish interest, his most recent being The Little Book of Irish Boxing. He has worked as a freelance broadcaster for BBC Northern Ireland, RTÉ and Newstalk.

The Little Book of Dorset is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the places, people, legends and true stories about the county's past and present.

Some of the funniest and most bizarre news stories printed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Erotic misdemeanours in an Irish bean-field, the recipe for a frog barometer fresh from the French court, a parrot convicted of heresy and burnt at the stake in Spain and a Dutch stage effect for ejecting a wig (by means of a spring) during Hamlet's ghost scene are just some of the masterpieces of understated journalism collected by Francis Cox and contained in his Fragmenta. At ninety-four vol

Ireland's love affair with Gaelic Games in general, and Gaelic football in particular, has never dimmed. Through the lean days of hunger and emigration, through the champagne-mojito-flavoured years of the Celtic Tiger and onwards, Ireland's love affair for 'our games' has always endured. Fact-packed and light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and a quirky guide reveals little-known facts about Gaelic football along with details of classic matches,

Did You Know? - In Stacksteads, a village near Bacup, there is an annual event which has to rank among the wackiest in the country's sporting calendar: the Gravy Wrestling competition. - According to legend King Arthur's mighty sword Excalibur is lying at the bottom of Lancashire's deepest lake, Martin Mere. - In Wigan, Eccles cakes used to be called 'slow walking cakes' because they were offered to mourners at funerals. - St Walburge's Church in Preston was named after the patron saint of peop

From cats, spats and catacombs to the Wall Street shuffle, Lies, Damned Lies and History is an entertaining look at how historical events didn't always unfold as we think they did. Graeme Donald takes the reader on a journey, century-by-century, showing how the truth we take for granted is a far cry from the facts. This is not a book for those who like their history sugar-coated, but for those who truly want to see the past as it was. It is a hilarious lesson that any history lover will

It was brash and it was loud – the 1980s put paid to the glumness of the '70s and nowhere was that more obvious than in the cars we drove, which took a quantum leap in durability, performance, equipment and style. They had to: Japanese quality and European design were luring away ever more customers. Features such as fuel injection, turbochargers, computer-controlled systems and four-wheel drive became commonplace. This was also the decade that brought us the people-carrier and the off-roader, n

From the snowy peaks of Snowdonia to the glorious Wales Coastal Path, this compelling compendium is a fact-filled journey through Wales' most iconic landmarks and popular tourist attractions. Experience the country's immense history, from the breathtaking World Heritage Sites to the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the countless castles, secluded beaches, mystical rivers and hidden gems which can be found across the land. This handy book can be dipped into time and time again t

From a detailed account of a German Spy in South County Dublin, to the great engineer William Dargan whose legacy was the railway system that still traverses the country, this wonderful book by the Foxrock local history society explores the achievements, events and personalities that have shaped South County Dublin. Based on a long running series of talks, this volume has distilled the essence of the history of Foxrock and its surrounds in a collection to treasure.

This little gem of a book is a repository of intriguing, fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts and trivia about Britain and all the things that have made it great. Within this volume are such themes as myths and legends, traditions and customs, great Britons and great British places, while not forgotten is a celebration of the best of British music, food, entertainment and sport and a host of topics that explore the more eccentric and eclectic people and things that contribute to

The Sheffield Wednesday Miscellany – a book on the Owls like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Sheffield Wednesday enjoy a notable history. Names such as David Hirst, Ernest Blenkinsop, Jack Brown and Tommy Crawshaw have worn the famous blue and white stripes hundreds of times and the mercurial Paolo di Canio delighted Hillsborough until an infamous encounter with a referee… In an intriguing format, this book delves the club's history and brings to the fore countle

Did you know? On 6 July 1924, high jumper and legendary Gaelic footballer Larry Stanley became the first athlete to represent independent Ireland in an Olympic athletics competition. Tom Kiely, arguably Ireland's greatest athlete, won in excess of 1,000 prizes, five AAA hammer titles and fifty-three national titles between 1888 and 1908. The oldest medallist in Olympic track and field history is Irish-born Matt McGrath, who won a medal in Paris in 1924 at the age of 49 years and 195 days. In the

This grisly collection of historic, horrid happenings from across the country demonstrates that Christmas is not necessarily a time of peace, joy and goodwill to all men. The holiday season has witnessed a plethora of almost unbelievable accidents, such as the amateur mechanic who died with his head stuck in a car engine, the footballer who leaped into a quarry to retrieve a lost ball, and the Christmas party guest who fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck. There are fatal rail crashes

The Little Book of Essex is packed full of entertaining bite-sized pieces of historic and contemporary trivia that come together to make essential reading for visitors and locals alike. It can be described as a compendium of frivolity, a reference book of little-known facts, or a wacky guide to one of England's most colourful counties. Dip in randomly, or read consecutively, there are no rules. Be amused and amazed at the stories and history of Essex's landscape, towns, village

Did You Know

- Van Morrison wrote 'Brown Eyed Girl' on a piano in Derrygonnelly

- Paddy Monaghan, from Ederney, befriended Mohammad Ali and became known as Paddy-Ali

- St Molaise brought soil containing blood from early Christian martyrs from the Colosseum in Rome and placed it on Devonian Island

- Natives of Fermanagh had boats called cots, which were shaped like spoons without handles. They are the only boats in the world to be preserved during winter by bei

The Little Book of Leicestershire is a compendium full of information which will make you say, 'I never knew that!' Contained within is a plethora of entertaining facts about Leicestershire's famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its literary, artistic and sporting achievements, customs ancient and modern, transport, battles and ghostly appearances. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the h

This book is a compendium of material, in English and Irish, on the festival of Christmas from the manuscripts of the National Folklore Collection recalling how Christmas was celebrated in the nineteenth and early twentieth century in all its regional diversity. The book begins with accounts of the Christmas preparations, before moving through Christmas Eve, with its fasting, feasting and a multitude of superstitions, Christmas Day, with its focus on the home and family, and on to the accounts o

The Little Book of Suffolk is a repository of intriguing, fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts and trivia about one of England's most colourful counties. It is an essential to the born and bred Suffolk folk or anyone who knows and loves the county. Armed with this fascinating tome the reader will have such knowledge of the county, its landscape, people, places, pleasures and pursuits they will be entertained and enthralled and never short of some frivolous fact to enhanc

The Little Book of the Cotswolds is a veritable smorgasbord of Cotswold miscellany, packed with fascinating titbits and all manner of factual frippery – from Cotswold lions to puppy dog pies. The region's strangest traditions, its most eccentric inhabitants, blood-curdling murders and right royal connections combine with humorous cartoons to make this quirky little book difficult to put down.

The Little Book of London is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium full of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. London's looniest laws, its most eccentric inhabitants, the realities of being royal and literally hundreds of wacky facts about the world's greatest city combine to make it required reading for visitors and locals alike.

The paranormal is a subject of endless fascination to the book-buying public. There is an insatiable appetite for tales of UFOs, ghosts, bigfoot and other features of our world that are frequently reported by eye-witnesses, but are not yet accepted by science as being genuine phenomena or events. This little book introduces the reader to the world of the paranormal and entertains them with numerous anecdotes, snippets of information and lists of events. Rupert Matthews has produced an amusing, a

Did you know? - The town of Wincanton is twinned with a place that does not exist. - William Gibbs of Tyntesfield House made his fortune by importing bird droppings from Peru. - A song by 'Scrumpy and Western' singer Adge Cutler was banned by the BBC for being too raunchy. - Nine villages in Somerset are known as the 'Thankful Villages'. From seaside to countryside and villages to towns, Somerset is a county where it's difficult to separate history and mystery. This fast-paced, fact-packed comp

Did you Know?

- St Mary's Collegiate Church claims to be the single oldest church in Ireland to have been in constant use over the centuries. The original roof, dating to c.1200, is still in situ.
- It was Thomas Harriott of Youghal who first brought potatoes and tobacco back from America. He took them to London, where Walter Raleigh introduced them to Queen Elizabeth I.
- In 1954, part of the Hollywood film Moby Dick was filmed in Youghal. Through main thoroughfares and twistin

The Little Book of Aviation is a collection of facts, figures and interesting stories from the world of flight. Sad, humorous, baffling and astounding stories abound, from the pioneering days of the Wright Brothers to the present day, and covering everything from great milestones, famous names who've served, and the greatest of aircraft icons; phantom pilots and aircraft and a glossary of slang; the origins of plane-spotting and unusual aircraft names; great feats and enduring mysteries; lucky e

The Leeds Rhinos Miscellany - a book like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. If you want to know the record crowd for a home game, the record appearance holder or longest-serving player, look no further; this is the book you've been waiting for. From record try-scorers to record defeats - it's all here. Full of humour, quotes, anecdotes and more.

Authors David and Gareth take a trip through the places, peculiarities and past practices of Cardiff, stopping off to sample the culinary (and alcoholic) delights of the city along the way. From Clark's Pies and a heaped helping of 'Half and Half' to the oddities of the 'Kaairdiff' accent, this fact-packed compendium reveals the contributions Cardiff has made to the history of the nation and recalls some of its famous faces – Shirley Bassey, Charlotte Church and Frank Hennessy amongst them – and