Toponymity

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.