''Brewer's Rogues, Villains, & Eccentrics: An A-Z of Roguish Britons Through the Ages'' is a
reference
A reference is a relationship between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object. The first object in this relation is said to ''refer to'' the second object. It is called a ''nam ...
book first published by Brewer's in 2002, edited and compiled by
William Donaldson
Charles William Donaldson (4 January 1935 – 22 June 2005) was a British satirist, writer, playboy and, under the pseudonym of Henry Root, author of ''The Henry Root Letters''.
Life and career
Son of Charles Glen Donaldson (1904–1956) and ...
.
The book is an esoteric look at some of the wild characters emanating from the United Kingdom and has been described as "a work of maniacal genius".
It featured entries on eccentrics and rogues famous, infamous and little-known, including
Beauchamp Bagenal,
Lord Berners,
John Aspinall and
John Wilkes
John Wilkes (17 October 1725 – 26 December 1797) was an English Radicalism (historical), radical journalist and politician, as well as a magistrate, essayist and soldier. He was first elected a Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlese ...
. Some entries, such as that on
George Best
George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional association football, footballer who played as a winger (association football), winger, spending most of his club career at Manchester United F.C., Manchester Un ...
, reflect a certain cynicism about media-created rogues.
See also
*''
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'', sometimes referred to simply as ''Brewer's'', is a reference work containing definitions and explanations of many famous phrases, allusions, and figures, whether historical or mythical.
The "New Edi ...
''
References
{{reflist
2002 non-fiction books
Biographical dictionaries