Animal Crackers: A Bestial Lexicon

Abstract

A delightful and well researched reference work that is exhaustive--though often inconclusive--in chasing animal phrases back to their origins. Perfect for reading a few pages a day. The Animal Name Index promised in the Introduction seems to be lacking, at least in the paperback. Inclusions from fables that I have noticed include: bell the cat (23), bull and bear markets (36), a cock and bull story (53), cook your goose (60), cry wolf (64), the lion's share (139), a serpent in one's bosom (190), slow and steady wins the race (194), and sour grapes (196). Aesop is not mentioned where he might be as a source for one swallow does not a summer make (162).