What other sporting book will explain the rules of elephant polo; the perils of the Cresta Run; the intricacies of the Palio; the breathtaking anties of Kabaddi; or why surfing is the 'Sport of Kings'? Which other volume will inform you of the importance of snooker to nuns; the correct temperature of a 'hot bath'; the words of the Haka (and Swing Low Sweet Chariot); the myriad participants of the 'Wacky Races'; or what W. G. Grace considered cheating. Where else will you stumble across famous sleepers; tips for solving cryptic crosswords; pub games and parlour games; or every sporting ailment from joggers' nipple to housemaid's knee.

About the Author

Ben Schott is the author of Schott's Original Miscellany and Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany. A photographer, designer and miscellanist he lives in London, and divides his time between Highgate and the British Library.

Prizes

Sales to date (January 2004)Schott's Original Miscellany - 750,000Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany - 375,000Schott's Calendar Box - 80,000

Reviews

'Schott's Original Miscellany stands out for its essential comic absurdity... should appeal to the Stephen Fry in all of us' Financial Times 'One of the hits of the season - and with good reason - is Schott's Original Miscellany, conceived, written and designed by the admirable Ben Schott' Daily Mail 'Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany is already firmly ensconced in the bestseller lists... When you read about the Scoville Scale, which charts the comparative heat of different chillis, you will wonder how you lived without it all this time' Finanical Times