toponymity , n. The condition of being named after a geographic location.
It's no secret that America's cookouts owe a lot to the German towns
of Frankfurt and Hamburg. Likewise, we know when we put on the wool of a
goat from India's Kashmir valley. But did you know that the town of
Spa, Belgium, bequeathed to us a new form of healthy relaxation? Or that
Tuxedo Park, New York, brought Americans a staple of formal wear? These
towns, it turns out, are just the tip of the iceberg.
In this ingenious follow-up to Anonyponymous, John Bemelmans
Marciano takes us on a lively tour of American, European, and world
history, showing us our linguistic heritage in all its richness and, to
use another toponym, serendipity. Dotted with Marciano's signature witty
drawings and topical essays, this book is a joy to browse and sure to
impress your friends. It makes a perfect book for language lovers,
whether they come from Cologne, Germany, or Bikini Island.
John Bemelmans Marciano is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the original Madeline books. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
