Goldenballs and the Iron Lady: A Little Book of Nicknames

by Andrew Delahunty (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2004

  $3.25

  Who is The Muscles from Brussels? When and why did Bill Clinton become known as The Comeback Kid? Where and what is Tin Pan Alley? And where do all those nicknames like 'Blondie' and 'Titch' come from? All these questions and many more will be answered in this delightfully browsable volume. Nicknames are a rich and revealing treasure trove of information about the people, places, and institutions they refer to. They can be affectionate or respectful, critical or irreverent, or even downright derogatory. In more than 800 entries, Goldenballs and the Iron Lady explores them, warts and all, past and present. The book also looks at the histories behind widely used nicknames such as 'Carrot-top' and 'Lofty'. The modern and browsable layout includes not only dozens of illustrative cartoons, but also special boxes bringing together nicknames with a common theme, for example the trends behind nicknames given to boxers or jazz musicians. There is also a thematic index which groups together nicknames given to everything from figures in crime to football clubs. Goldenballs and the Iron Lady is an ideal gift for all those who are curious about famous people and places and their names.