What is Myrrh Anyway?: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas

by Jonathan Green

Uncovers the truth behind such familiar festive traditions as carol-singing and cards, and demystifies the origins of Christmas. This title tells you how to cook the roast turkey, what mince pies should taste like, or why you are forced to endure the cross-dressing antics of a traditional pantomime every year.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2008

About the author

Jonathan Green is a writer of speculative fiction, with more than seventy books to his name. Well known for his contributions to the Fighting Fantasy range of adventure gamebooks, he has also written fiction for such diverse properties as Doctor Who, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Moshi Monsters, LEGO, Judge Dredd and Robin of Sherwood.

He is the creator of the Pax Britannia series for Abaddon Books and has written eight novels, and numerous short stories, set within this steampunk universe, featuring the debonair dandy adventurer Ulysses Quicksilver. He is also the author of an increasing number of non-fiction titles, including the award-winning YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks.

He has recently taken to editing and compiling short story anthologies, including the critically-acclaimed GAME OVER and SHARKPUNK, published by Snowbooks, and the forthcoming Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu.

To find out more about his current projects visit www.JonathanGreenAuthor.com and follow him on Twitter @jonathangreen.

Reviews

[Claire]

An interesting compendium of the origins of familiar Christmas customs and traditions. Green speculates on such matters as the identity of the three kings, explains such mysteries as the reasoning behind the date of Christmas and the development of the Advent calendar and the Christmas cracker, and asks, in the words of Brian's Mum: "What is myrrh anyway?" You'll find out here.

[Snakeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating facts about Christmas!

[Mrs Susan M Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and interesting. One I shall keep.