Williamsburg Featured In Book About 'Bills' And 'Williams'

There are more than four million boys and men in the United States named Willliam or Bill, and a new book introduces a lot of them. There are also twenty-seven Williamsburgs in the world. All but one of those are in the United States. Every one of them has a story; the most interesting ones, including the one nearby in Morrisons Cove, are found in the "Billtowns" chapter of this lively volume.

"Bills! Bills! Bills!" by J.I. Miller is a collection of lighthearted essays and observations about people, places, and things named William or Bill. William the Conqueror, William Tell, William Shakespeare, four American presidents, Willie Nelson, Buffalo Bill – they are all in there, along with most of the Williamsburgs in America.

Like his earlier book "The Book of Jims," this one is based on people carrying one of the most common given names in the English-speaking world. The name has gradually lost its high ranking in recent years as more little boys are given names like Jackson, Jared, or Jason, but there are still lots of Williams around.

Miller is a retired biology professor and likes to say that he is now enjoying the arts-and-humanities phase of his life. Working on this book was a grand excuse to delve into many aspects of western civilization he had been curious about, he says. He unearthed a lot of surprises in the process, especially all of those Williamsburgs, Williamstown, and Williamsports. Pennsylvania has all three.

The cover for the book was designed by cartoonist Pat Achilles. Several of her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker, but Miller first learned of her style because she designs the posters and playbills for all of the productions of a Gilbert and Sullivan Society in Bucks, County, Pennsylvania, where he plays trombone in the orchestra. He recognized her mirthful style as complementary to the content of the book and together they came up with the cover concept.

"Bills! Bills! Bills! is available in hardcover, softcover, and electronic versions from bookstores or a preferred online retailer. The author's experience with his earlier book, the one about Jims, is that people found it a convenient gift for their brother-in-law, their brother outright, or an uncle, cousin, or friend with the appropriate given name. It is also of interest to residents of Willamsburgs, Williamsports, and Williamstowns.