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Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme
Gotham Product Details - Ratings and reviews for heavy words lightly thrown: the reason behind the rhyme. |
Product Description
Was Little Jack Horner a squatter? "Baa Baa Black Sheep" a bleat about taxation? What did Jack and Jill do on that hill? Who was Mary? And why was she contrary? This witty and ingenious book delves into the hidden meanings of forty of the most innocuous- sounding nursery rhymes, uncovering a seething subtext of sexual innuendo, religious hatred, and political subversion. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown provides a fascinating history lesson, teases out some alarming Freudian interpretations, and makes astonishing connections to contemporary popular culture. Striking and spooky silhouettes of nursery rhyme characters accompany the rhymes. You?ll never see Mother Goose in the same way again.
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Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme
- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Gotham; 2006-08-17
- Label: Gotham
- Studio: Gotham
- ISBN: 1592402178
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 19 reviews
- Sales Rank in Books: #380391
Avg. Customer Review:
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Interesting account of the origin of nursery rhymes 2008-05-03
Comment: This book, which explores the origin of some 40 familiar nursery rhymes, alternated between being fascinating and frustrating. Fascinating because of the unexpected nuggets of information it contains ('Tweedledum and Tweedledee' was based on a feud between Handel and another composer, Bononcini; 'Banbury Cross' was intended to mock the Puritans; 'Baa-baa black sheep' was an early complaint about taxes; 'Sing a song of sixpence' is about the first two wives of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries). Frustrating because all too often the 'explanation' is little more than the presentation of assorted theories of varying degrees of plausibility, with no resolution provided (though to be fair to the author, this probably reflects a desire not to go beyond the bounds of interpretation acceptable on the basis of current scholarly research).
There is a distinctly English emphasis to the rhymes included in the book, and some (Elsie Marley, London's burning, Turn again Whittington, Remember Remember, Taffy was a Welshman) are likely to be unfamiliar to non-English readers. An interesting feature of the book is that each rhyme is illustrated by one of a panel of 30 artists commissioned for the purpose. As you might expect, the quality of the illustrations is decidedly mixed, ranging from the charming (Celia Biscoe's drawings to accompany 'Jack Be Nimble' and 'Georgy Porgy') to the truly abysmal ('Here we go round the mulberry bush', 'Three Men in a Tub'; both drawings appear to have been done by a manic depressive).
I have no hesitation in saying that you will find much in this book to interest you. I'm equally confident that some of the material will bore or irritate you. A mixed bag, but with much to recommend it.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Read 2008-03-26
Comment: An excellent product of solid research and study that desribes the real stories behind the classic nursery rhymes. Great work!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Anticipated 2008-02-01
Comment: I'm very interested in the origin of nursery rhymes, and was therefore not at all enthralled by this book. Almost from the first page, my enthusiasm began to wane; after a couple chapters I became downright bored. The author demonstrates that he is very knowledgeable, but never quite ties his observations of history directly to the nursery rhyme being discussed. The title is the most interesting line of the book. Sorry to say this was quite a disappointing reading experience for me.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Heavy Words Lightly Thrown 2007-11-24
Comment: Heavy Words Lightly Thrown By Chris Roberts.
Paperback 185 Pages.
This collection is not intended for children.
This collection of rhymes was researched as far as was possible( by a librarian with a history degree.) not an easy job, but the fact that considerable effort was made to unravel the facts was good enough for me.
I knew there were hidden meanings to the rhymes because of my work and interest in child - care. I was very pleased when I found this book, as topics like these are not easy to find.
It is not pollitically correct, if it had been I probably would not have bought it. I am very fond of this quirky paperback. I found the history fascinating, (both English and American versions of the rhymes are given) when available. The short histories allow the reader to peruse at leisure and with pleasure, returning again and again.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Perhaps are not Facts 2007-10-26
Comment: I wish that I had read the other's reviews before getting this book. 'Heavy Words Lightly Thrown' seems like quite a read. It seemed to be the only book on the subject of the truth behind nursery rhymes so I was quite intrigued.
Unfortunately, the first few tales written bothered me. I am quite the history fanatic, but not everyone is. The author goes off with history lessons, hoping that the readers know what he was talking about. I'm glad I did. The author goes off track, stating what the rhyme might mean if he's not too sure himself, giving two and three explanations and trying to tie them together. It is very confusing and unorganized. You can't cram a bunch of history in three pages.
For ex:
'Jack Be Nimble' MIGHT have to do with how healthy one might be. There was also a lot of talk about fertility. 'Jack' is not a girl, so this reference shouldn't even be there seeing that it has no tie with the rhyme.
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Learning about children sacrifices to keep a bridge safe was quite interesting... but had nothing to do with 'London Bridge'.
In other stories, the author actually starts babbling about the same thing for a whole page, making you wish that the next rhyme would just be on the next page already.
To sum it up, I was very disappointed. I hope if the author decided to write more on this subject, that he gets his FACTS straight and in order or at least number his 'Perhaps'. Do not throw asterisk around, expecting the reader to stop and flip to the back of the book every few paragraphs and do not try to be witty, be witty.
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Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme
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