Book description
Why do British pubs have such curious names? What tales lie behind
the Moonrakers, the Hooden Horse, the Derby Tup? And why does the
Green Man come in different shapes and sizes?
In Green Men & White Swans, leading folklorist Jacqueline
Simpson explores the fascinating stories behind pub names, uncovering
the myths and legends, euphemisms and wordplays, heroes and even
ghosts that have inspired pub landlords over the centuries. Spanning
beloved locals from the Three Witches to the Three Nuns, from the
Ashen Faggot to the Twa Corbies, this book is both an intriguing
insight into the history of the British pub and a captivating journey
through the country's dramatic past.
Dr Jacqueline Simpson was born in 1930 and studied English Literature
and Medieval Icelandic at Bedford College, University of London. She has
been an active member of the Folklore Society since the 1960s, having
served at various times as Editor, Secretary and President. She also
belongs to the Viking Society for Northern Research. She is particularly
interested in local legends, both English and Scandinavian. Her books
include
British Dragons
(1980),
Scandinavian Folktales
(1988),
A Dictionary of English Folklore
(2000, with Steve Roud),
The Lore of the Land
(2005, with Jennifer Westwood) and
The Folklore of the Discworld
(2008, with Terry Pratchett). She is a member of the Ghosts and
Scholars Society and the Dracula Society. She lives in Sussex.
