Did you know “Old Mother Hubbard” is a criticism of the Catholic Church? That “Little Miss Muffet” was likely Mary, Queen of Scots? That “Humpty Dumpty” refers to a cannon? Those revelations merely scratch the surface in POP GOES THE WEASEL: THE SECRET MEANINGS OF NURSERY RHYMES, Albert Jack’s thoroughly well-researched study of seemingly innocuous songs from our childhood.
Not surprisingly, many selections from Mother Goose’s oeuvre are found to have political and/or religious meaning, meant to satirize authorities of that era. I don’t know where Jack got all his info, but he has a knack for unearthing the arcane. That goes for the rhymes, too, whose lyrics get printed — there are dozens I’ve never even heard of. Recommended for trivia buffs with a bent toward world history. —Rod Lott
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I love trivia! I never really thought about nursery rhymes (although I did read Grimm’s Fairy Tales….very enlightening!) Thanks for the recommendation!