What did a gongfarmer do? How is a chaperone connected to a bird of prey? What is the etymology behind cloud architect? And is there a link between secretaries and secrets? The story behind these (and many more) job titles is rarely predictable and often fascinating. In this highly original book, Alexander Tulloch examines the etymology behind a selection of trades and professions, unearthing intriguing nuggets of historical information along the way. Here you will find explanations of common surnames, such as Spencer, Hayward and Fletcher; obsolete jobs such as pardoner, cordwainer or telegraph boy; and roles for the modern era, such as wedding planner, pundit and sky marshal. Packed with additional etymological information and literary quotations, this book will appeal not only to linguists but also to anyone interested in the quirky twists and turns of meaning which have given us the job titles with which we are familiar today.

Most of us are aware that words such as geometry, mathematics, phobia and hypochondria derive from ancient Greek, but did you know that marmalade, pirate, sketch and purse can also trace their linguistic origins back to the Athens of 500 bce? This book offers a word-by-word look at the influence of Greek on everyday words in English, telling the stories behind the etymological developments of each example and tracing their routes into modern English via Latin and European languages. It also explains connections with ancient Greek culture, in particular mythology, politics and warfare, and includes proverbs and quotations from Greek literature. Taken together, these words show how we are deeply indebted to the language spoken in Athens 2,500 years ago for the everyday vocabulary we use when conducting our daily business.

"The Little Book of Liverpool" is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic, or simply strange information which no one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, and literally hundreds of wacky facts. Alex Tulloch's new book gathers together a myriad of data on this historic city. There are lots of factual chapters but also plenty of frivolous details which will amuse and surprise. A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something you never knew. For instance, did you know that the clock on the Liver Buildings was started at the precise moment that King George V was crowned on 22 June 1911? Thought not. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

"The Little Book of Kent" is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic, or simply strange information which no one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, and literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). Alex Tulloch's new book gathers together a myriad of data on Kent. There are lots of factual chapters but also plenty of frivolous details which will amuse and surprise. This is an ideal book to have by your bedside or to while away the hours on a long train journey. And if you like to take part in pub quizzes (or set them) then you will find this book a veritable treasure trove of useful information as well as just fascinating trivia. Who knew, for instance, that Laurel and Hardy cut the ribbon when the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch narrow gauge railway was reopened after the war?

There is something special about Liverpool. From its earliest beginnings it has always been associated with the ups and downs, the triumphs and tribulations of the rest of the country, acting like a mirror to the events that have shaped the country we now think of as Great Britain. As one of the major ports in the land, Liverpool has witnessed the comings and goings of people from all corners of the world who, over the centuries, have constituted the melting pot of nations which has given rise to what we now think of as a typical scouser. In The Story of Liverpool the author has tried not to present the reader with facts and figures, diagrams and statistics that usually form an integral part of an academic history, but to concentrate on the story or romance of Liverpool's evolution over the years. Uppermost in his mind was an attempt to bring history to life, to give it a plot and characters and to convey to the reader and idea of what it would have felt like to be alive at various stages in the city's evolution. The first popular history of Liverpool for many years, this is a comprehensive and revealing account of the city's development from it's earliest days to modern times. Lively, readable and well-illustrated, this is a tremendous book for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

If you're looking for a book which is fun and at the same time informative about Lancashire then this is the one for you. If you want to sit down and read it from cover to cover you will be fascinated by the things you did not know about this amazing part of England. On the other hand, if you just want something to dip into on the train or bus or to read for five minutes in bed before you fall asleep, this book will also do the job. Did you know for instance that in Wigan, Eccles cakes used to be called 'slow walking cakes' because they were offered to mourners at funerals? Or that that St Walburge's Church in Preston was named after the Patron Saint of people suffering from rabies? Thought not.

Three sisters - Elizabeth, Kirsty and Katy - are spending a few days at their Granny's house in the country and their Granny lets slip that there used to be talk in the village of a ghost walking about at night. As the three girls decide to find out more about the mysterious 'sightings', they are drawn into a strange world somewhere between dreams and reality. They come face to face with 'the ghost' and a strange horse-drawn carriage whisks them away into the dead of night. When they reappear they are people from a by-gone age and the transformation causes alarm and consternation among their family and acquaintances. This ghost story takes place during the 1920's when cars and telephones are few and far between. The only people who can provide the answers for Granny and the girls are a day or two's ride away by horse and trap. Then there is the strange Mr Emmet. What is his connection with the tall ghost who seems to want to destroy everyone in an act of senseless revenge?

In Aintree Days, Alexander Tulloch recounts his life in Liverpool from 1945 to 1962, when he was growing up with his sister, parents and grandparents in a small terraced house in Aintree. It is also accompanied by an atmospheric selection of photographs, reflecting the England of yesteryear.