The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable explains the origins of the familiar and the unfamiliar in everyday speech and literature, including the colloquial and the proverbial, and embracing archaeology, history, religion, the arts, science, mythology and characters from fiction. This valuable dictionary, which revises and updates the original work of Dr. Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, encompasses material from all over the English speaking world and cites many equivalents from other European countries. The inclusion of quotations which accompany and illustrate many of the entries adds hugely to the value of this legendary work of reference.
Another valuable book for any writer. Just paging through this book you are bound to learn something new. I turn to it often when writing to find new phrases to use of some myth that I never knew about. Love, love, love this book.