Names & nicknames of places & things

the long version

Locates and explains not only names of cities, streets, natural wonders, and landmarks of the real world - businesses, bistros, and buildings of historic, folkloric, ceremonial and cultural significance - but also proverbial places, sites mentioned in literature, and legendary locales. Concise, authoritative descriptions capture the essence of each place - its atmosphere, role in literature, relationship to the arts, mythical meaning, religious or commercial importance or topographical aura.