Did Charles Boycott really invent the boycott? And did the Earl of Sandwich create the first salted beef sandwich? Never gave it much thought? Well John Marciano has. In his recent book, Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words, Merciano sets down a compendium of “word biographies” sure to delight the people who like to know just where the words that they are using come from. Few people care you may counter, but Marciano puts this collection of etymologies together in such a witty and whimsical way that it can easily hold the interest of any reader. And what about Harry Shrapnel? Hmm. What a legacy he has! Merciano, also the author of the “Madeline,” children’s books, uses these “etymologies linked to people” as a gateway, or more precisely as an interesting hook, to introduce the reader to the fascinating world of etymology. Fascinating? Yes for some of us anyway. But give it a try. By using succinct and interesting biographies he pulls the reader into the fascinating history behind language. Words we use everyday, think little about are often linked to characters both grand and dubious. Hopefully those intrigued by the etymologies in Merciano’s book will further delve into the interesting origins of language. Is Merciano correct on the derivations of the words he chooses? Well most of the etymologies are the best guess that can possibly be made at the present. Is that to say, you should doubt? No just enjoy. The only thing wrong with this book is it’s too short. Oh and don’t forget Jules Leotard__ all of you who wear tights.
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