An apple a day : old-fashioned proverbs and why they still work

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? Can beggars be choosers? Is it always better late than never?Proverbs are short, well-known, pithy sayings that offer advice or words of encouragement and are used in everyday English without much thought ever being given to their meanings, or indeed, usefulness.

In An Apple A Day Caroline Taggart explores the truth behind our favourite proverbs, their history and whether they offer any genuine help to the recipient.

Did you know that The Old Testament has an entire book devoted to proverbs? Or that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb from falconry that dates back to the Middle Ages?

Many proverbs are still in use today, including the very famous 'slow and steady wins the race', which derives from one of the many fables of Aesop.

Lighthearted but authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were.