It followed a simple format like a catechism, with questions and answers, and focused on explaining "the common phenomena of life", such as why snow is white or leaves are green.

Of his methodology, Brewer wrote in the preface to the Historic Note-Book: I have been an author for sixty years, have written many books, and of course have been a very miscellaneous reader.

In my long experience I have remarked how little the range of "literary" reading has varied, and how doubt still centres on matters which were cruces in my early years.

Other works by Brewer include A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic and Dogmatic (c. 1884), and The Historic Notebook, With an Appendix of Battles.

[10] E. Cobham Brewer died on 6 March 1897 at Edwinstowe Vicarage, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, where he had been living with his son-in-law, the Rev.