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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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Mother Goose
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Old woman of magical powers, usually in a pointed witch's hat, who is a favourite character in *pantomime. She emerged in France in 1697 as the supposed author of a collection of traditional fairy stories, Contes de ma mère l'Oye (Tales of Mother Goose), which had been gathered together by Charles Perrault (1628–1703). These included several tales which became staples of British pantomime, including *Puss in Boots and *Cinderella. They first appeared in English, under Mother Goose's name, in an edition of 1729. She was later enlisted to present the most influential early collection of *nursery rhymes.
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