- Hardcover: 464 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton; 1st Edition edition (18 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340937874
- ISBN-13: 978-0340937877
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 16.3 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
231,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #49 in Books > Humour > Rural Life
- #63 in Books > Science & Nature > Earth Sciences & Geography > Meteorology > Climate
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Product Description
Review
'A meteorological feast for every day of the year'
(Good Book Guide )'It's this year's Eats, Shoots and Leaves, an entertaining gift book that will keep difficult uncles distracted for hours on Christmas Day'
(Guardian online )'Worthwhile enough to shine for longer than gimmicky giftbooks often do'
(Independent )'Smart and well-researched' (five stars)
(Time Out )'Chock-packed full of tales . . . if you're interested in the weather - and we all are - then this is a fascinating book'
(Robert Elms, The Robert Elms Show, BBC London )'Wonderful . . . full of fascination and amusement'
(Alan Titchmarsh, The Alan Titchmarsh Show )'A perfect buy . . . both fascinating trivia and a timely survey'
(Sainsbury's Magazine )'The idiosyncratic accumulation of strange weather-related factoids, quotes and anecdotes has bags of charm.' (The Sunday Times )
Product Description
It's the great British obsession and not surprisingly: no other country in the world has such unpredictable weather, with such power to rule people's lives as we have. The Wrong Kind of Snow is the complete daily companion to this British phenomenon. From the Spanish Armada to the invention of the windscreen wiper, each of the 365 entries beautifully illustrates a day in the weird and wonderful history of the British and their weather.
31 January: The 'Big Freeze' of 1963brings the FA Cup competition to a halt: every football pitch in Britain is frozen: the third round takes 66 days to complete: the Pools Panel is formed as a result.
9 February: 'British Rail blames the Wrong Kind of Snow' - it was a journalist's phrase, but on this day in 1991 it stuck to the beleaguered BR like flesh to ice.
15 July: The exceptionally hot and steamy summer of 1858 caused the Great Stink of London, resulting in the building of London's sewage system, still in use today. On the same day in 1930, rainfall in Yorkshire is so heavy that the Whitby lifeboat makes a rescue two miles inland.
10 September: A violent storm - rather than British sea power - defeats the Spanish Armada in1588. Four centuries later, bad light and rain stop play at the Oval . . .
And much more.
31 January: The 'Big Freeze' of 1963brings the FA Cup competition to a halt: every football pitch in Britain is frozen: the third round takes 66 days to complete: the Pools Panel is formed as a result.
9 February: 'British Rail blames the Wrong Kind of Snow' - it was a journalist's phrase, but on this day in 1991 it stuck to the beleaguered BR like flesh to ice.
15 July: The exceptionally hot and steamy summer of 1858 caused the Great Stink of London, resulting in the building of London's sewage system, still in use today. On the same day in 1930, rainfall in Yorkshire is so heavy that the Whitby lifeboat makes a rescue two miles inland.
10 September: A violent storm - rather than British sea power - defeats the Spanish Armada in1588. Four centuries later, bad light and rain stop play at the Oval . . .
And much more.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Just about everything you need to to know about our pernicious, fickle and changeable weather is in Antony Woodward and Robert Penn's 'The Wrong Kind of Snow'.
There is a page for each day of the year and a storm of facts, figures and stories relating to the weather - how we measure it, the chaos it has caused, the inspiration (and depression) it has given writers, who are much quoted. There's lots of sporting detail, loads of historical references - from the acknowledgements, you can see that a huge number of researchers were involved with the project and it shows.
I bought it thinking that I would leave it in the loo and read a page a day, but once I started I found myself devouring months and quarters at a time.
Definitely one of those books that you can read through in a sitting or leave on the bookshelf for reference.
There is a page for each day of the year and a storm of facts, figures and stories relating to the weather - how we measure it, the chaos it has caused, the inspiration (and depression) it has given writers, who are much quoted. There's lots of sporting detail, loads of historical references - from the acknowledgements, you can see that a huge number of researchers were involved with the project and it shows.
I bought it thinking that I would leave it in the loo and read a page a day, but once I started I found myself devouring months and quarters at a time.
Definitely one of those books that you can read through in a sitting or leave on the bookshelf for reference.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Finally a book that satiates the British obsession with weather. Woodward and Penn have come up with the definitive guide. Crammed with facts, anecdotes and asides it is at once amusing, fascinating and informative. Ultimately a great read that can be poured over for hours or dipped into for minutes. I loved it.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great read - witty and informative about a variety of subjects affected by the weird and wonderful British weather. It makes the most perfect present - there's something in here for everyone. If you're looking for a good Christmas present then I strongly recommend this book. I've given it to a number of people and it has been a huge success every time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointed
I was disappointed when I received this book. Not in the content but in the condition. It was supposed to be 'new.' I had paid a 'new' price. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jenny Ball
The Wrong Kind of Snow
Terrific book--informative and amusing & one you will go back to again & again. You don't have to be particularly interested in meteorology to enjoy this book as it is crammed with... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. M. Stamp
Unexpected
The book was great - lots of interesting facts in a 'diary' form. One of those books that you can dip into, but you will get sucked in easily
Published 16 months ago by Nicky
the wrong kind of snow
This book is like a diary of past storms and bad weather to hit this country over the centuries.
Published on 27 Oct 2009 by Jen2000
fabulous Book!
I love this book and have bought copies for gifts. It is a wonderful mixture of facts, literary references, absurdities in fact a collation of Britishness !! Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Lizziejwj
Right kind of book
I have to confess that I have only got to 11 June (today) - I bought this a few months ago and read it to get up to date and now I just take a page at a time generally on the exact... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2008 by Rob Sawyer
Save it up!
Buy this book! For yourself, a friend, your mum or dad, hell, buy it for anyone. It is a joy and for some reason I find the stories very moving, particularly Henry Bloggs in... Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2008 by A. G. Lister
One for the Xmas Stocking
A truly epic tome that is a must for all us weather obssessed folk. I originally purchased this book because the pile of miscellanies & anecdotal publications in the downstairs WC... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by Tommy B
Right Kind Of Book
Great book! Fascinating facts that make you want to find out more and read the books that are quoted. Liked all the technical explanations of the winds,hurricanes and clouds etc. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2007 by Gaynor
Cracking good read
Very enjoyable; lots of information that you could probably live without but very amusing and well put together.
Published on 19 Nov 2007 by K. M. Robinski
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