Potty, Fartwell & Knob

by Russell Ash

Russell Ash has trawled parish registers and censuses going back 900 years to compile the first ever complete book of breathtakingly unlikely-but-true British names. It features an incredible and diverse range of totally genuine names, evoking everything from body parts (Dick Brain), sex (Matilda Suckcock), illness (Barbaray Headache) and toilet functions (Peter Piddle) to food (Hazel Nutt), animals (Minty Badger) and places (Phila Delphia). Every single one has been checked for authenticity and its source is given, as well as extra notes where further fascinating illumination is possible. The book provides a rigorously researched yet laugh-out-loud overview of Britain's eccentricity through the ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Russell Ash is best known for his annual 'The Top Ten of Everything' and other popular reference works, but he is also the author of numerous humour titles. His extensive research work encompasses biographical studies and genealogy.

Reviews

[Sketchbook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who wants to read "The Constipations" ? Or hunker down with "The Hard Bones" ? Gimme a book about the Messrs Morecock, Fartwell and Co. For I am a serious person.

With holidays and guestings here, this is a ditzy specialty gift when visiting the Trollopes. Neighbors Frank Felch and Jane Breast will want copies. One must always think of others--.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very typical of the sort of book that I'm reading at the moment. It doesn't have any narrative to speak of, so doesn't require any determined or extended period of reading. You can literally enjoy a page and then move on...

The idea is simple. The names that people have been given in the past are now able to raise a smile, a giggle, or even occasionally a guffaw. Some of them rely on the change in word meaning (Fanny which is *much* ruder in UK English than American English) or on the combination of initials and surname.

A pleasant way of passing a few minutes!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to be quite childish to enjoy this book. Luckily I am. It’s basically a book of lists, with funny names divided into categories. Some are extremely rude, some are just plain silly. It’s the sort of book to keep on your desk to brighten dull days rather than the sort of book to read all in one go.

[Judith Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read. Always makes me laugh and makes me feel better about being called Mrs Titt. At least my first name isn't Pissy. And "Dorothy Horrible" cracks me up every time!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell Ash has delved into birth registries, censuses and historic Parish records to dig up hundreds of extraordinary and outlandish names, and lists the best of them in this hilarious book. He groups them into short chapters, each with a theme.

The result is a fun book to be dipped into, not something you might read as a continuous narrative. There really have been people who went through life called Harriot Orala Laywell, Florence May Pee and Emma Scunt.

A cautionary word: this book is not necessarily inappropriate for children (most teenagers for example will love it) but may lead younger children to ask "what does this name mean and why is it funny?" So you need to be prepared to have `that' conversation, and explain why people might find names like Jane Fuxlonger and Everard Cock worthy of mirth.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not exactly what I expected

I gave it two stars because the author did put in a lot of time and effort to research all of these names. However, I was expecting there to be a little more detail and something else other than pages and pages of names.

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, absolutely hilarious. Great toilet reading material!

[Robin Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny! You have to hear the names in your mind read at a graduation! Lol

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of research of 17 and 1800's British parish registers, census and other documents to produce this book of rather unfortunate names.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kudos to the author for spending his time to collect all the names. I had expected some more anecdotes and historical context. After about, say, 100 pages, the reader would become fully desensitized to the names.

[Mell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is less book and more list of names. I thought there would be more history and insightful commentary. Well researched, but got dull after a while and just not my cup of tea. I simply scanned the lists quickly.

[Candy kang]

how fortunate i am... really.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love those Brits. Not what I expected, as this is really a book of listings, but still fun to see the absurd names some people are saddled with for life.

[J.F. Doleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius. Best collection of names on earth.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of names people actually had that now days are just plain silly or would be darn embarrassing. Some names though aren't suitable for the younger readers.