Heavy Words Lightly Thrown - Tapa dura

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.

Chris Roberts spends the winter months indoors working as a librarian in University of East London. In summer he gets out a bit, conducting London guided tours with his company, Foot and Mouth.