Coconut shy

[1] The game is mentioned by Graham Greene in The Ministry of Fear in 1943,[2] H. G. Wells in The Invisible Man in 1897,[3] by E. Nesbit in The Story of the Treasure Seekers in 1899,[4] and by P.G.

One theory suggests the coconut shy may have originated at the annual Pleasure Fair in Kingston upon Thames in 1867.

Sketch on York Race Ground (1804) shows a carnival game in which sticks are thrown at various shaped objects atop posts; the drawing was etched and printed in 1805 titled Gaffers at a Country Fair, and a revised version was printed in 1808 titled Doncaster Fair the Industrious Yorkshirebites.

The story describes the set-up and management of an early 20th century coconut shy and life on the road as the group follows the fair in a van.

In German-speaking countries the game of Dosenwerfen (throw cans) is popular for school parties, as well as in professional stalls at fairgrounds.