Dr. Brewer’s Reader’s Handbook by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer is a comprehensive reference work first published in 1879 under the fuller title The Reader’s Handbook of Allusions, References, Plots and Stories. Designed to help readers understand literary references and cultural allusions, the book explains the origins and meanings of names, quotations, proverbs, historical incidents, myths, legends and stories frequently encountered in English literature. Brewer draws on a wide range of sources, including classical mythology, the Bible, Shakespeare, English poetry, folklore and European history. Entries provide background information on familiar expressions, characters and events, helping readers recognise references that might otherwise be obscure. The handbook was subsequently revised and expanded in numerous editions, including versions with additional material on authors and their works.
