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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Heart of Oak
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Patriotic song written by *Garrick for a pantomime (Harlequin's Invasion 1759). It celebrates 'this wonderful year', in which there had been several victories in the *Seven Years' War. The heart of oak is the wood the British ships are made of, and so by extension the quality of the British sailors ('Heart of oak are our ships,/ Heart of oak are our men'). The tune is by William Boyce (1710–79).
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