Scapegoats, Shambles and Shibboleths by Martin Manser

Scapegoats, Shambles and Shibboleths by Martin Manser

'The fruit of his labours', Martin Manser's SCAPEGOATS, SHAMBLES AND SHIBBOLETHS is a delightful book for all who adore the English language. 'In the twinkling of an eye' we learn that many of our most familiar phrases are taken straight from the King James Version of the Bible. Far from being 'holier than thou', it seems we quote from the Bible without even realising! Martin Manser explains in detail what it is to be 'the apple of someone's eye' ... 'No modern physiology book would put it like this, but in the past the pupil of the eye was referred to as "the apple". After all, it was shaped like one. In addition, because it was recognised to be the most important part of the eye it was a symbol for all things precious. The most valuable part of a highly valued organ of the body. Dotted around the Bible the phrase therefore represents anything that is of great worth - whether it is the law of God in Proverbs 7 v 2, the people of Israel found and nurtured in the desert or as an individual on the receiving end of divine care.' A quirky present, SCAPEGOATS SHAMBLES AND SHIBBOLETHS will amuse and entertain as well as shed a thought-provoking light on the background to our rich and varied language.

If you're at all interested in the origins of our extraordinary language then this entertaining and delightful companion will reward your interest over and over again* The Good Book Guide *

Martin Manser is a professional reference-book editor. He is also a language consultant with national companies and organizations. Martin is Part-time tutor at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London and Part-time visiting lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780340979792
ISBN 10	0340979798
Title	Scapegoats, Shambles and Shibboleths
Author	Martin Manser
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	John Murray Press
Year published	2009-09-17
Number of pages	272
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.