books – Treatises of Gloria

‘Your Just Desserts!’ – A Treatise on the Traditional Desserts of English Cuisine

For those not of an English background, the stodge-filled delights of a classic English dessert menu can be somewhat intimidating and only really consumable if you’ve declined to have a starter or main course, and care little for the well-being of your lower intestine. In this treatise I take you through a range of thoseContinue reading “‘Your Just Desserts!’ – A Treatise on the Traditional Desserts of English Cuisine”

‘Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?’ – A Treatise on the Origin of Jokes

The best way to kill a joke is by explaining how it works. Another way is by exploring and investigating its origins. In this treatise I intend to murder several of the English language’s most stalwart rib-ticklers. “My wife has gone to the West Indies.” “Jamaica?” “No, she went of her own accord.” This jokeContinue reading “‘Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?’ – A Treatise on the Origin of Jokes”

‘No It’s True’ – A Treatise on the History of Warlocks

Warlocks – the term originates from the Old Northumbrian for ‘our hair’ as early warlocks were famed for their outrageously large beehive hairdos. In a footnote to his ‘Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum’, the Venerable Bede wrote ‘There are locals who forsake the Lord and instead besmear their loins in goose grease and applieth the sameContinue reading “‘No It’s True’ – A Treatise on the History of Warlocks”