My books

My books for children:

Lore of the Stars

Coming soon: October 2023

Look up at the skies in wonder with this mystically illustrated treasury of folklore from above and beyond.

Did you know that people used to read the future in the flight of birds? That the constellations were thought to be mythological beings set in the sky? And that eclipses were seen as demonic omens?

For millennia, humans have looked to the heavens to explain the world around and above them. The myths, folktales and lore that have arisen from these wonderings are as mysterious as they are varied – here, they’re set down in a beautifully illustrated and engaging format for readers 6-12 years old. Lore of the Stars takes readers deep into space and back through the mists of time to discover the myriad answers to our most ancient questions.

Divided into six chapters:

The Sky
The Sun
The Moon
Stars
Planets, Comets & Shooting Stars
The Cosmos

You will uncover the secrets of augury, the meanings of types of weather, stories explaining the birth of the Milky Way, and the beings and deities said to govern the worlds above.

Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions | Published UK: October 2023 | US: October 2023 |

Lore of the Land

Published September 2022

Unearth the secrets of our natural world with The Lore of the Land, a richly illustrated compendium of folklore and wisdom from the land, skies and seas.

From thundering rivers to shady groves, flickering marshes to lightless caves, and from snow-capped mountains to the depths of the ocean, discover the folklore of Earth’s wildest places. Stories and spirits abound in these land- and seascapes, where traditional wisdom and mysterious magics have intertwined over centuries.

Each of the six chapters covers a different natural landscape, revealing the worldwide folklore surrounding Woodlands, Seas & Oceans, Wetlands, Mountains, Rivers & Streams and Hills & Caves. Beginning with tales from cultures spanning the globe, each chapter then dives into the legends of how these places were formed, their place in the human imagination and their natural and otherworldly denizens.

Learn how the forests hold up the sky in Maori tradition; how in Ireland, seaweed was once thought to predict the weather; and that the ancient Greeks believed Mount Etna housed the fiery forge of the gods. All this and more is accompanied by beautiful artwork based on real folklore, uncovering the secrets of our natural world as never before.

A treasury of fascinating tales and ancient wisdom, The Lore of the Land is sure to fire the imaginations of young nature-lovers, and delight anyone who has ever wondered whether there is more to our natural world than meets the eye.

Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions | Published UK: September 2022 | US: September 2022 | Buy it now (Bookshop.org) |

Lore of the Wild

Published September 2021

See nature in a whole new light with this enchantingly illustrated treasury of natural folklore and wild wisdom from around the world.

Did you know that people used to believe that rabbits’ ears would twitch in the direction of a thunderstorm? That lily of the valley flowers were formed from fairies’ drinking cups? And that taking dandelions into the house would make you wet the bed? Traditional nature folklore can help us understand how our ancestors interacted with the world around them and allows us to view nature from a new perspective.

Brought to life with bright, folk art-inspired illustrations, discover the lore of: An array of different animals, birds and insects, all types of flowers, plants and trees; The weather, sun, moon and stars; Good and bad omens, and lucky charms. Lore of the Wild inspires appreciation of different cultures, as well as an engagement with the beauty of the natural environment.

Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions | Published UK: September 2021 | US: September 2021 | Buy it now (Bookshop.org) or Buy it now (Amazon)

My books for adults (select a book to find out more):

Book cover design for The Curious History of Weights & Measures by Claire Cock-Starkey

Book cover design for Hyphens and Hashtags by Claire Cock-Starkey

– View a selection of articles I have written for other publishers.

The Curious History of Weights & Measures

Published February 2023

How long is an ell? What is the largest size of champagne bottle? How do you measure the heat of a chilli pepper? Why is the depth of water measured in fathoms? And what is a cubit?

The Curious History of Weights & Measures tells the story of how we have come to quantify the world around us. Looking at everything from carats, pecks and pennyweights to firkins and baker’s dozens through to modern science-based standards such as kilograms and kilometres, this book considers both what sparked the creation of myriad measures and why there were so many efforts to usher in standardisation.

Full of handy conversion charts and beautiful illustrations The Curious History of Weights & Measures is a treasure trove of fun facts and intriguing stories about the calculations we use every day.

Publisher: Bodleian Library Publishing | Published UK: February 2023 | US: May 2023 | Buy it now: Bookshop.org

Hyphens & Hashtags

Published March 2021

The book cover of 'Hyphens and Hashgtags' by Claire Cock-Starkey

The punctuation marks, mathematical symbols and glyphs which haunt the edges of our keyboards have evolved over many hundreds of years. They shape our understanding of texts, calculations and online interactions. Without these symbols all texts would run in endless unbroken lines of letters and numbers.

Many hands and minds have created, refined and promulgated the symbols which give form to our written communication. Through individual entries discussing the story behind each example, Hyphens & Hashtags reveals the long road many of these special characters have taken on their way into general use. In the digital age of communication, some symbols have gained an additional meaning or a new lease of life – the colon now doubles up as the eyes of a smiling face emoticon and the hashtag has travelled from obscurity to an essential component of social media. Alongside historical roots, this book also considers ever-evolving modern usage and uncovers those symbols which have now fallen out of fashion.

Hyphens & Hashtags casts a well-deserved spot-light on these stalwarts of typography whose handy knack for summing up a command or concept in simple shorthand marshals our sentences, clarifies a calculation or adds some much-needed emotion to our online interactions.

Publisher: Bodleian Library Publishing | Published UK: March 2021 | US: April 2021 | Reviews: The Spectator | Buy it now (Bookshop.org) or Buy it now (Amazon)

A Museum Miscellany

Published October 2019

Which are the oldest museums in the world? What is a cabinet of curiosities? Who haunts Hampton Court? What is on the FBI’s list of stolen art?

A Museum Miscellany celebrates the intriguing world of galleries and museums, from national institutions such as the Musee du Louvre, the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to niche collections such as the Lawnmower Museum and the Museum of Barbed Wire. Here you will find a cornucopia of museum-related facts, statistics and lists, covering everything from museum ghosts, dangerous museum objects and conservation beetles to treasure troves, museum heists and the Museum of London’s fatberg. Bursting with quirky facts, intriguing statistics and legendary curators, this is the perfect gift for all those who love to visit museums and galleries.

Publisher: Bodleian Library Publishing | Published UK: October 2019 | Buy it now (Bookshop.org) | Buy it now (Amazon)

The Real McCoy & 149 Other Eponyms

Published October 2018

Picture of the cover of 'The Real McCoy' a book by Claire Cock-Starkey

The English language is rich with eponyms – words that are named after an individual – some better known than others. This book features 150 of the most interesting and enlightening specimens, delving into the origins of the words and describing the fascinating people after whom they were named.

Eponyms are derived from numerous sources. Some are named in honour of a style icon, inventor or explorer, such as pompadour, Kalashnikov and Cadillac. Others have their roots in Greek or Roman mythology, such as panic and tantalise. A number of eponyms, however, are far from celebratory and were created to indicate a rather less positive association – into this category can be filed boycott, Molotov cocktail and sadist.

Encompassing eponyms from medicine, botany, invention, science, fashion, food and literature this book uncovers the intriguing tales of discovery, mythology, innovation and infamy behind the eponyms we use every day. The Real McCoy is the perfect addition to any wordsmith’s bookshelf.

A Library Miscellany

Published February 2018

What can be found in the Vatican’s Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin’s library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats?

Bursting with potted histories, quirky facts and enlightening lists, this book explores every aspect of the library, celebrating not only these remarkable institutions but also the individuals behind their awe-inspiring collections.

From the ancient library at Alexandria to the Library of Congress in Washington DC, A Library Miscellany explores institutions both old and new, from the university library to that of the humble village. It opens the door to unusual collections such as herbaria, art libraries, magic libraries and even the library of smells, and charts the difficulties of cataloguing books deemed to be subversive, heretical, libellous or obscene.

Packed with unusual facts and statistics, this is the perfect volume for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles and readers everywhere.

The Book Lovers’ Miscellany

Published September 2017

Ever wondered how ink is made? Or what is the bestselling book of all time? Or which are the oldest known books in the world? Highbrow to lowbrow, all aspects of the book are celebrated and explored in The Book Lovers’ Miscellany.

From a list of unfinished novels, a short history of the comic, the story behind Mills and Boon and an entry on books printed with mistakes to a guide to the colours of Penguin paperback jackets and a list of the most influential academic books of all time.

Between these pages you will discover the history of paper, binding, printing and dust jackets; which books have faced bans; which are the longest established literary families; and which bestsellers were initially rejected. You can explore the output of the most prolific writers and marvel at the youth of the youngest published authors; learn which natural pigments were used to decorate a medieval bible; and what animal is needed for the making of vellum.

The ideal gift for every bibliophile, The Book Lovers’ Miscellany is full of fun facts, potted histories and curious lists, perfect for dipping into and sharing.

The Golden Age of the Garden

Published May 2017.

The relationship between England and its gardens might be described as a love affair; gardening is one of our national passions, rooted in history. The eighteenth century is often called the Golden Age of English gardening; as the fashion for formal pleasure grounds for the wealthy faded, a new era began, filled with picturesque vistas inspired by nature.

Charting the transformation in our landscapes through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, The Golden Age of the Garden brings the voices of the past alive in newspaper reports, letters, diaries, books, essays and travelogues, offering contemporary gardening advice, principles of design, reflections on nature, landscape and plants, and a unique perspective on the origins of our fascination with gardens.

Exploring the different styles, techniques and innovations, and the creation of many of the stunning spaces that visitors still flock to see today, this is an evocative and rewarding collection for all gardeners and garden-lovers seeking insight, ideas and surprises.

Bodleianalia: Curious Facts About Britain’s Oldest University Library

Published October 2016.

Book cover of Bodleianalia - by Claire Cock-Starkey

Which is the smallest book in the Bodleian Library? Who complained when their secret pen name was revealed in the library’s catalogue? How many miles of shelving are there in the Book Storage Facility? What is the story behind the library’s refusal to lend a book to King Charles I? And, what is fasciculing? The answers to these questions and many more can be found inside this intriguing miscellaneous collection of curious facts and stories about the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Home to more than 12 million books and a vast array of treasures including the Gutenberg bible, J.R.R. Tolkien’s hand-painted watercolours for The Hobbit, Shakespeare’s First Folio and four thirteenth-century copies of Magna Carta, the Bodleian Library is one of the most magnificent libraries in the world with a fascinating history.

Bodleianalia delights in uncovering some of the lesser known facts about Britain’s oldest university library. Through a combination of lists, statistics and bitesize nuggets of information, it reveals many of the quirks of fate, eccentric characters and remarkable events which have contributed to the making of this renowned institution. The perfect book for trivia-lovers and bibliophiles, it also offers readers a behind-the-scenes peek into the complex workings of a modern, world-class library in the twenty-first century.

Publisher: Bodleian Library Publishing | Published UK: October 2016 | Reviews: Fine Books Magazine | Buy it now (Bookshop.org) | Buy it now (Amazon)

Famous Last Words

Published April 2016.

Who said ‘I should have drunk more champagne’? Did Nelson really utter ‘Kiss me Hardy’ from his deathbed? Which statesman was, at the end, ‘bored with it all’? Which king begged, ‘Let not poor Nelly starve …’? An extraordinary number of deathbed sayings have been recorded over the years, some proving irresistible to embellishment, others displaying wry humour, still more showing remarkable lucidity in the final hours of life.

The last words of politicians, kings, queens, actors, philosophers, scientists and writers are sometimes profound, sometimes prescient, often strange, funny and usually poignant. They can reveal the essence of an extraordinary life or tell us something about a celebrated person’s final hours.

In our ultimate moments, it seems, we are not averse to cracking a joke, losing our temper or begging for help from those we are leaving behind. The most interesting, controversial and insightful of these exit lines are collected here, from deathbed desperation to the fondest of farewells.

Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins: First Encounters with the Exotic

Published April 2016.

Can you remember seeing a giraffe for the first time? Tasting a pineapple? Touching a cactus? Probably not, because in these modern times everyone is very knowing – knowledge is at our fingertips and it can sometimes feel as if there is nothing new to discover. The awe and excitement from that moment has been lost because these objects and experiences have become ordinary to us.

But if we travel back in time just a few hundred years, before the age of globalisation, people were encountering new foods, animals, plants, peoples and cultures for the first time as overseas trade routes opened up. This new book reflects the wonderment and curiosity of these new experiences. Based on the historical collections of the British Library, it uses extracts from a wide variety of sources to reveal the reactions and thoughts of Europeans as they visited new places, tasted new foods and encountered strange animals, peoples and plants for the first time.

How to Skin a Lion

Published May 2015.

How to Skin a Lion is a fascinating collection of miscellaneous historical advice, gathered from the magnificent archives of the British Library. Drawing on medieval manuscripts, Victorian manuals and self-help guides of the early twentieth century, the book uncovers an extraordinary range of guidance from etiquette to apiculture, medicine to mechanics. How to Skin a Lion offers an intriguing insight into a past with no modern conveniences, where navigating the social scene was fraught with perils and Google did not hold the answer to everything.

The Georgian Art of Gambling

Gift book created to complement the British Library’s 2013 exhibition on the Georgians.

The Georgian Art of Gambling takes the reader on a miscellaneous tour through high and low society to reveal all aspects of gambling in the Georgian era. Descriptions of the most fashionable card and dice games of the day are interspersed with snippets of contemporary anti-gambling pamphlets, descriptions of the most famous (and degenerate) gambling houses, and accounts of the ruination of many high-profile aristocrats.

The Georgian Art of Gambling covers wagering on sports such as cockfighting, bull baiting, boxing and cricket to the more sedentary pleasures of the card table. Both the civilised (card games portrayed in the novels of Jane Austen) and the debauched (card sharps and loaded dice) are explored, offering the reader a fascinating glimpse into the extent of gambling in Georgian Britain.

Publisher: British Library | Published: November 2014 | Reviews: The Times Literary Supplement; A Covent Garden Gilfurt’s Guide to Life; Amazon | Buy it now

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Seeing The Bigger Picture is a beautiful infographics book covering a huge range of subjects including the environment, politics, overseas aid, crime and the economy – providing a truly global perspective on the issues that matter today. The data ranges from the serious to the quirky (and everything in between) each providing a different angle with which to compare and contrast countries around the world.

Publisher: Michael O’Mara | Published: November 2013 | Reviews: Goodreads.com | Buy it now

Schott’s Almanac

Schott’s Almanac was a practical and entertaining annual volume that told the real stories of the year. Covering everything from world politics to who wore what at the Oscars, Schott’s Almanac offered readers a wry look at the year.

Publisher: Bloomsbury | Published: 2005-2010

The Curious History of Weights & Measures	Hyphens & Hashtags	The Real McCoy and 149 Other Eponyms
A Museum Miscellany	A Library Miscellany	The Book Lovers’ Miscellany
The Golden Age of the Garden	Bodleianalia	Famous Last Words
Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins	How to Skin a Lion	The Georgian Art of Gambling
Seeing the Bigger Picture	Schott’s Almanac series