The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions (Oxford Quick Reference)Allusions form a colourful extension to the English language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. So a miser is a Scrooge, a strong man is a Samson or a Hercules, a beautiful woman is a Venus or a modern day Helen of Troy we can suffer like Sisyphus, fail like Canute, or linger like the smile of the Cheshire Cat. This reference work