NONFICTION - Jan. 12, 1986

MOST REMARKABLE NAMES by John Train (Clarkson N. Potter: $9.95). Wackford Squeers, one of Charles Dickens’ more imaginative character names, cannot hold a candle to the impressive roll call in this volume. What would you do if you had to go through life as Fauntleroy Schnauz or Oofty Goofty Bowman? Hide? Or better yet; change your name to something more simple like Bonnie Bee Buzzard or Atomic Zagnut Adams or Demetrius Toodles? John Train has scoured some obscure sources here and in Europe for real names bequeathed children by parents of vast and amazing imaginations. No Maxes, Sheilas or Franceses here, just a wonderful collection of the ridiculous, the awful and unfathomable in moniker and nomenclature. Charming little drawings by Pierre Le-Tan accompany the text.