Caroline Taggart – författare

Exploring the gardens, monuments, museums, and churches with walks both urban and rural, from the Bronte parsonage in Haworth to Zadie Smith's North London and Shakespeare's Stratford, The Book Lover's Bucket List takes you through some 100 wonderfully described literary sites and landscapes, complete with colour destination photographs and illustrations from the British Library collections.Start with Chaucer, Dickens and Larkin in Westminster Abbey. Spend an afternoon at Colliers Wood Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire and take in the lake D. H. Lawrence described as 'all grey and visionary, stretching into the moist, translucent vista of trees and meadow'. Venture south to Cornwall and work your way up to the Scottish Highlands, taking detours to Northern Ireland in the west and Norfolk in the east - or simply drop in on the place nearest to you. Wherever you are in the United Kingdom, you're never far from something associated with a good book.

Inside this little book one of Britain’s top Grammar Gurus reveals all you need to know about Grammar but were afraid to ask.Let’s admit it, we all struggle with Grammar. There, they’re or their? Who’s or whose? Me or I? Fewer or less? Worry no more, Caroline is here to take the grind out of grammar in easy bite-sized chunks. With insights into hyphens and the dreaded apostrophe, comparatives and superlatives and whether England is singular or plural, she offers clear but light-hearted advice on getting things right when it matters – and relaxing just a little when it doesn’t.Beautifully produced, Collins Little Book of Grammar Secrets is a treasure in itself and makes a perfect gift. Be careful who you give it to though; you never know who is going to start picking you up on your misplaced modifiers.

Following the success of The Book Lover's Bucket List, Caroline Taggart sets off on a tour of Europe to select 100 literary landmarks across the continent to describe and provide practical advice for visiting. Discover the inspirations in Austria for Mary Shelly and in Sweden for Astrid Lindgren; visit Cervantes' statue in Madrid dating back to 1835 and explore the French Riviera through the eyes of F. Scott Fitzgerald.The entries stretch from Homer in the eighth century BCE all the way to modern-day Scandi Noir, Sally Rooney's Dublin and Elena Ferrante's Naples.Accompanied by colour destination photographs and illustrations, mainly from the British Library Collections, this book is sure to inspire real travel and vicarious vacations alike. Lose yourself in the Venice of Thomas Mann, Edith Wharton and Donna Leon, then retreat by train to the romantic streets of Verona in search of Romeo and Juliet.

Take the Roman festival of Saturnalia, the gift-giving Norse god Odin and the Pagan habit of bringing evergreen plants into the house at Midwinter. Add a benevolent fourth-century bishop, some drunken medieval singing and a nineteenth-century American poem. Sprinkle with the Christian tradition of Jesus being born on 25 December and stir well. Allow the mixture to absorb other influences over hundreds of years and serve with a plum pudding that may or may not have plums in it. Drawing on these multifarious ingredients and more, Caroline Taggart takes a fascinating and quirky look at why we celebrate Christmas the way we do. Illustrated in glorious full colour with images from the British Library Collections, this is a joyful journey through distant lands and ancient customs, finishing with a few thoughts on what our future traditions might be.

Throughout history, people have wanted to conquer, plot and travel across with the world in two-dimensions. From the murky origins of human's earliest past times, where fortune-telling and play blur, to modern ventures into Monopoly, boardgames have shaped everything from how we conduct war to the art we create.What is it that makes them so addictive, so constantly inviting to playful reinterpretation and reinvention? Caroline Taggart brings her signature warmth and wit to The Philosophy of Boardgames, a playful cultural history that lays the checkered past of boardgames bare. Covering various subgenres of games including: Early games, Race games, Chess, Combat games, Puzzles games, Word games, Quiz games, Role-playing games, and Collaborative games.

From the abysmal and cadaverous to wraith and zombie, readers can discover over 300 of the most grisly, ghostly, and gruesome words ever to creep into the English language and beyond. Equally sinister terms from other languages include the Japanese tsujigiri (a deadly crossroads killing) and the Dutch bokkenrijders (ghostly goat-riding thieves), each with a story as dark as the words themselves. This isn t just a dictionary it s a journey into the hidden history and dark etymology of language, exploring how meanings have twisted, evolved, and haunted the human imagination through the ages. Literary and poetic excerpts bring these chilling terms to life, revealing the enduring allure of the macabre across literature, cinema, and pop culture. These words don t just unsettle they challenge conventions, wrestle with moral ambiguity, and echo the fears, taboos, and dark curiosities of cultures throughout history. Perfect for language lovers, dark-academia enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the eerie and unusual, this is a dreadful dictionary with a difference, designed to entertain, educate, and unnerve in equal measure.

Serious answers to rhetorical questions--what''s not to like? For those of us who have long wondered where bears go to take care of their business, if the Pope is actually Catholic, or whether anyone is really made of money, Caroline Taggart provides the answers to these and a host of previously unanswerable questions. From the most profound questions of philosophy to queries of geography and science, this deadpan book is full of hilarious information you never knew you needed including: What''s love got to do with it? How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man? Where does the time go? Can a leopard change his spots?

Take a journey down winding lanes and Roman roads in this witty and informative guide to the meanings behind the names of England's towns and villages. From Celtic farmers to Norman conquerors, right up to the Industrial Revolution, deciphering our place names reveals how generations of our ancestors lived, worked, travelled and worshipped, and how their influence has shaped our landscape.From the most ancient sacred sites to towns that take their names from stories of giants and knights, learn how Roman garrisons became our great cities, and discover how a meeting of the roads could become a thriving market town. Region by region, Caroline Taggart uncovers hidden meanings to reveal a patchwork of tall tales and ancient legends that collectively tells the story of how we made England.

Novel writing is a popular hobby and this book will provide the would-be and starter novelist with all the tools needed to get started. This title includes a thorough grounding in essential fiction writing skills and clear guidance on how to get published from top industry names. It provides a complete glossary of terms and listing of all publishing contacts needed by an author, from book publishers and agents to festivals and online links. It includes tremendous resource of instruction and information that will prove invaluable to the armies of would-be and practising novel writers.

Novel writing is a popular hobby and this book will provide the would-be and starter novelist with all the tools needed to get started. This title includes a thorough grounding in essential fiction writing skills and clear guidance on how to get published from top industry names. It provides a complete glossary of terms and listing of all publishing contacts needed by an author, from book publishers and agents to festivals and online links. It includes tremendous resource of instruction and information that will prove invaluable to the armies of would-be and practising novel writers.

Ever wondered if Cheapside really is cheap, what you do in Threadneedle Street, or who the knights of Knightsbridge were?Did you know that Piccadilly is actually an insult? And that Euston Road was built because there were too many cows on Oxford Street? Or that the River Fleet was covered over partly because of a drunken butcher? Take a trip down narrow lanes, through cobbled streets and crowded markets to discover the meanings behind the city’s place names. Meet forgotten residents whose names survive in the places where they lived, such as Sir George Downing of Downing Street, and uncover tales from London’s murky past that have shaped the modern city.From famous landmarks to forgotten rivers, grand thoroughfares to lost palaces, and ancient villages swallowed up as the city grew, Caroline Taggart explains the hidden meanings behind familiar places. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the history of London and discover the people, events and stories that shaped our capital city, then come on a journey that will show you London in a new light...

Ever wondered if Cheapside really is cheap, what you do in Threadneedle Street, or who the knights of Knightsbridge were?Did you know that Piccadilly is actually an insult? And that Euston Road was built because there were too many cows on Oxford Street? Or that the River Fleet was covered over partly because of a drunken butcher? Take a trip down narrow lanes, through cobbled streets and crowded markets to discover the meanings behind the city’s place names. Meet forgotten residents whose names survive in the places where they lived, such as Sir George Downing of Downing Street, and uncover tales from London’s murky past that have shaped the modern city.From famous landmarks to forgotten rivers, grand thoroughfares to lost palaces, and ancient villages swallowed up as the city grew, Sunday Times bestselling author Caroline Taggart explains the hidden meanings behind familiar places. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the history of London and discover the people, events and stories that shaped our capital city, then come on a journey that will show you London in a new light...

Take a journey down winding lanes and Roman roads in this witty and informative guide to the meanings behind the names of England's towns and villages. From Celtic farmers to Norman conquerors, right up to the Industrial Revolution, deciphering our place names reveals how generations of our ancestors lived, worked, travelled and worshipped, and how their influence has shaped our landscape.From the most ancient sacred sites to towns that take their names from stories of giants and knights, learn how Roman garrisons became our great cities, and discover how a meeting of the roads could become a thriving market town. Region by region, Caroline Taggart uncovers hidden meanings to reveal a patchwork of tall tales and ancient legends that collectively tells the story of how we made England.

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?Can beggars be choosers?Is it always better late than never?Proverbs are short, well-known, pithy sayings that offer advice or words of encouragement and are used in everyday English without much thought ever being given to their meanings, or indeed, usefulness. In An Apple A Day Caroline Taggart explores the truth behind our favourite proverbs, their history and whether they offer any genuine help to the recipient. Did you know that The Old Testament has an entire book devoted to proverbs? Or that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb from falconry that dates back to the Middle Ages? Many proverbs are still in use today, including the very famous 'slow and steady wins the race', which derives from one of the many fables of Aesop. Lighthearted but authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were.

'See if you can tell your Tantalus from your Tacitus!' – The Daily Telegraph'This book aims to fill you in on the stuff you wish you'd been taught at school' – The Times______________________A Classical Education is a must-have for anyone feeling let down by modern schooling.How many times have you wished that your history stretched all the way back to Greek and Roman myths and legends? Or that you'd been taught Latin at school? Or perhaps you wish you knew all about the great inventions and medical developments that have made our world what it is today? A Classical Education provides all of these classical facts that modern schooling leaves out, and many more. Perfect for parents who wish to broaden their children's education, as well as for those who would simply like to learn or relearn the facts themselves, A Classical Education is informative and educational, but above all accessible. Subjects include: Latin and Greek; Logic and philosophy; Natural sciences; Art and architecture; Poetry and drama; History and Classical literature.

Would you be down in the dumps if, when asked the definition of certain phrases, it was all Greek to you? Let's not beat about the bush: the English language is littered with linguistic quirks, which, out of context, seem completely peculiar. If you can't quite cut the mustard, this book will explain how on earth 'off the cuff' came to express improvisation, why a 'gut feeling' is more intuitive than a brainwave, and who the heck is 'happy' Larry. These expressions and countless more become a piece of cake once you've read As Right as Rain - perfect for any Tom, Dick or Harry with a love of language.

'This "essential cornucopia" aims to inspire you to use uncommon words in their original contex'- BooksellerEver wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered. This book will inspire the reader to use uncommon words in their correct context, utilize the English language to its full potential, and test themselves on the words they think they already know. This is a book for the appreciator of correct usage, and contains words you thought you knew (decimate, caveat, nemesis), words you should know (euphemism, diatribe, tautology), and just a few that you might want to know (peripatetic, shibboleth, callipygian). Arranged thematically, each word is dissected, with a brief explanation of etymology, historical and modern usage, allowing you to fully understand and effectively employ the word in its proper context.For those interested in everything this eclectic language has to offer, who wish to celebrate its majesty and depth, this veracious cornucopia of knowledge will have you confabulating with the literary cognoscenti in no time.By the same author:9781843176572 My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?)9781782438205 The Accidental Apostrophe

Ever wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered.Words are beautiful and versatile things, but when used incorrectly they can lose a lot in transition, and the more complex the word, the more misused it can become. And as words eternally evolve in their everyday use, they can begin to be interpreted as something other than their original meaning. 500 Words You Should Know will inspire the reader to use uncommon words in their correct context, to utilize the English language to its full potential, and to test themselves on the words they think they already know.

The English language is a versatile and agile thing, and as our world changes, so too does the way we use it. Sometimes we coin new words for new creations, but very often we adopt and adapt existing words to suit new purposes, or simply put two together to form a third.New Words for Old looks at the story behind some of the words we use every day and how their meanings have changed over time. From technology and fashion to politics and music, our language displays centuries of imagination and creativity, so often overlooked. Tracing the development of green from the days when it was just a colour, web when it was something spiders made and trolls when they were nothing more threatening than the baddies in fairy tales, this is a fascinating tour through the history of the words we use every day and demonstrates just how wide we cast the net when trying to describe something new.

A fascinating collection of the many unusual and vibrant phrases that adorn our language, looking at their origins and meanings. Don’t be down in the dumps if you can’t cut the mustard when asked the definition of certain phrases – this down-to-earth guide is just the ticket.This collection contains some intriguing and remarkable stories about our best-loved and most colourful phrases and shows the huge range of sources from which they originate. From advertising to the Ancient Greeks, from the military to meteorology, Kicking the Bucket at the Drop of a Hat takes us on a wonderful journey through our language’s history.With more phrases than you can shake a stick at, this collection will bring home the bacon for any Tom, Dick or Harry with a love of language.

Sunday Times bestselling author Caroline Taggart brings her usual gently humorous approach to punctuation, pointing out what really matters and what doesn’t.In Roman times, blocks of text were commonly written just as blocks without even wordspacingnevermindpunctuation to help the reader to interpret them. Orators using such texts as notes for a speech would prepare carefully so that they were familiar with the content and didn’t come a cropper over a confusion between, say, therapists and the rapists. As we entered the Christian era and sacred texts were widely read (by priests if not by the rest of us), it became ever more important to remove any likelihood of misinterpretation. To a potential murderer or adulterer, for example, there is a world of difference between ‘If you are tempted, yield not, resisting the urge to commit a sin’ and ‘If you are tempted, yield, not resisting the urge to commit a sin’. And the only surface difference is the positioning of a comma. So yes, you SMS-addicts and ‘let it all hang out’ Sixties children, punctuation does matter. And, contrary to what people who tear their hair out over apostrophes believe, it is there to help – to clarify meaning, to convey emphasis, to indicate that you are asking a question or quoting someone else’s words. It also comes in handy for telling your reader when to pause for breath. Caroline Taggart, who has made a name for herself expounding on the subjects of grammar, usage and words generally (and who for decades made her living putting in the commas in other people’s work), takes her usual gently humorous approach to punctuation. She points out what matters and what doesn’t; why using six exclamation marks where one will do is perfectly OK in a text but will lose you marks at school; why hang glider pilots in training really need a hyphen; and how throwing in the odd semicolon will impress your friends. Sometimes opinionated but never dogmatic, she is an ideal guide to the (perceived) minefield that is punctuation.By the same author:9781843176572 My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?)9781782432944 500 Words you Should Know

All That Glisters ... presents some of the pithiest, wisest and most fascinating quotations we should all know, detailing where they came from and why they may be useful when searching for an elegant or informed line to illustrate a point, spice up conversation or impress one's friends.

Quotations – or snippets from them – are commonly used in everyday speech, most often without the speaker knowing where they came from. From words of comfort to advice for the lovelorn, you can bet that someone, somewhere has come up with phraseology that perfectly sums up whatever situation you find yourself in – and put it more succinctly than you could ever dream of.In All That Glisters … Caroline Taggart presents some of the pithiest, wisest and most fascinating quotations we should all know, detailing where the quotation has come from and why it may be useful when searching for an elegant or informed line to illustrate a point, spice up conversation or impress one’s friends.Part of the pleasure of this book is to reveal the provenance of the well-worn quote (or misquote) – my cup runneth over, ay, there’s the rub, to err is human, the spice of life – but also to introduce some less familiar ones. Most of the quotations included are from classic sources – from the Bible, the works of Shakespeare, other poets, classical authors, Dickens (God bless us everyone, waiting for something to turn up, very humble), Charlotte Bronte (Reader, I married him) and George Bernard Shaw (who didn’t actually say Youth is wasted on the young, but may have said something like it. Somewhere. No one seems to know for sure).This entertaining and informed – but not too serious – take on the wit and wisdom of the last 2000 years is ideal for modern readers who like their knowledge in tweet-sized chunks.

Put your vocabulary skills to the test with this witty and engaging book.Improve Your Word Power is primarily a collection of multiple-choice challenges in which the reader is asked to decide which definition of a given word is correct. But it’s actually so much more than that. Each topic is themed – from words borrowed from French to words about colours; words from Shakespeare to words that sound alike – and the answers are wonderfully informative and accessible, each giving readers the chance to say ‘Gosh! I didn’t know that!’ even with quite familiar words.Interspersed throughout are boxes that feature odd definitions, confusable words and fun facts that make the language come to life.Written by Sunday Times bestselling author Caroline Taggart, this is a book that is aimed at readers who want to improve their vocabulary for the sheer enjoyment of it – and have fun doing so.

CRESTFALLEN at CHICANERY and CIRCUMLOCUTION? Have no TRUCK with TOMFOOLERY and TRUMPERY? Or OMNISCIENT about OBLOQUIES and OPSIMATHS?Whether you’ve answered yes, no or ‘sorry, I didn’t catch that’, 500 Beautiful Words You Should now is for you. It offers words that flow EXQUISITELY off the tongue; words that are just perfect for their meaning, like the lazy-sounding SLOTH and the heavy-footed GALUMPH; words that will make you sound clever, like DEUTERAGONIST and LETHOLOGICA; and words that are just fun to say, like LIQUEFACTION and LUXURIATE.It’ll tell you where they come from, how to use them and whether you’re likely to BAMBOOZLE anyone who’s listening to you. With occasional special features on great words for colours, words from the Classics and words that make you laugh, this is a book to delight BIBLIOPHILES and BLATHERSKITES alike.

CRESTFALLEN at CHICANERY and CIRCUMLOCUTION? Have no TRUCK with TOMFOOLERY and TRUMPERY? Or OMNISCIENT about OBLOQUIES and OPSIMATHS?Whether you’ve answered yes, no or ‘sorry, I didn’t catch that’, 500 Beautiful Words You Should now is for you. It offers words that flow EXQUISITELY off the tongue; words that are just perfect for their meaning, like the lazy-sounding SLOTH and the heavy-footed GALUMPH; words that will make you sound clever, like DEUTERAGONIST and LETHOLOGICA; and words that are just fun to say, like LIQUEFACTION and LUXURIATE.It’ll tell you where they come from, how to use them and whether you’re likely to BAMBOOZLE anyone who’s listening to you. With occasional special features on great words for colours, words from the Classics and words that make you laugh, this is a book to delight BIBLIOPHILES and BLATHERSKITES alike.

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post______________________In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that:If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet?If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (another image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.

A re-issue of the popular 2017 hardback edition, The Accidental Apostrophe.____________________________________The trouble with punctuation - well, one of the troubles, anyway - is that too many of the experts suggest leaving it to the writer's judgement. What use is that if you've simply never been taught the difference between a colon and a semicolon, or where those wretched apostrophes go?'Engagingly written, the book is highly readable and will make you think about the way you use punctuation - and that's got to be a good thing' - Parents in Touch ____________________________________Caroline Taggart, who has made a name for herself expounding on the subjects of grammar, usage and words generally (and who for decades made her living putting in the commas in other people's work), takes her usual gently humorous approach to punctuation. She points out what matters and what doesn't; why using six exclamation marks where one will do is perfectly OK in a text but will lose you marks at school; why hang glider pilots in training really need a hyphen; and how throwing in the odd semicolon will impress your friends. Sometimes opinionated but never dogmatic, she is an ideal guide to the (perceived) minefield that is punctuation.

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post______________________The huge variety of colourful phrases contained in the English language are notoriously varied and, often, notably odd. From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (an image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), the fascinating expressions that make up our language are explored in Humble Pie and Cold Turkey.In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that:If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet?If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will prompt you to question the downright bizarre idioms we use to express ourselves, and answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.