Will Roberts

Assasins, Thugs and Vandals Will Roberts

During research for a novel some years, I came across a reference to the Assassins, a secretive Islamic sect, whose name was derived from 'hashashin', or 'smokers of hashish'. I thought that other words we use during an everyday conversation might have just as exciting origins. This proved to be the case when I looked up the origin of the words Thug and Vandal. While on the subject of the unruly, disorderly and violent, I also checked the etymology of Hoodlum, Hooligan and Ruffian, and though these origins lack the interest that Assassins, Thugs and Vandals have, they are, nonetheless still worth including in this compilation. In discovering the origins of these words, this book embarks on a journey that starts in the rugged, almost inaccessible Elburz Mountains of northern Iran, where we meet the radical Ismailis Muslims, moving on to India where we will travel on that vast country's hot, dusty well-trodden roads; then back west to Spain and North Africa, until we arrive in Rome. The story then moves to California, and specifically San Francisco, (only a brief visit because we want to avoid the riots); then to France, Spain and Germany, before returning to London, England, and an unusual Irish immigrant family.