Nursery Rhymes - Their True Meanings

Do you know who Mary Mary and Georgie Porgie were?

What Humpty Dumpty was?

Why Jack and Jill were both executed?

That Pop Goes the Weasel is rooted in Cockney rhyming slang?

That London Bridge is Falling Down was partly explained by a Viking raid?

Why the Grand Old Duke of York died shortly after marching his men down the hill again?

If you can answer “Yes” to some or all of these questions, then this is the book for you. If you answer “No” to all of these questions, then this is definitely the book for you.

Normally, reciting nursery rhymes to children is an enjoyable process for parents to help develop their children's language skills. However, many nursery rhymes are associated with actual events in history and include hidden references to murder, torture, betrayal, greed and executions.

The rhymes were usually short and therefore easily remembered an important factor during times when few people were able to read or write. However, the wording of these seemingly innocent rhymes were used to parody unpopular political, royal and historical events of the day. Thus, these simple, yet subversive messages, spread discontent during times when the direct criticism of powerful people would often bring imprisonment, torture or death.

However, over the centuries, many of these secret histories have been forgotten. Thus, Nursery Rhymes - Their True Meanings explains the legends behind forty of these seemingly innocent verses.

All the rhymes have been arranged alphabetically and are complemented by illustrations.