Journal Entry 1 by bluenoser from Eymet, Aquitaine France on Saturday, April 18, 2009

One of many bought this morning at the Phoenix Association's Giant Book Sale. This one is for my friend, Nu-Knees. It's a short classic written in 1897. 

Journal Entry 2 by bluenoser at controlled release, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, April 19, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/20/2009 UTC) at controlled release, a controlled release -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This skinny little pre 1900 classic is heading off to Nu-Knees to keep her 'classic shelf' going. 

Journal Entry 3 by Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 24, 2009

Thank you very much for this one, bluenoser. I'm always on the look out for Classics I haven't read - and I haven't read this one, so thank you. Well spotted! And it's a bonus that it's only short. The Victorians did have a tendency to write great long tomes. I fully understand why but it's good to find exceptions from time to time :-)
 

Journal Entry 4 by Nu-Knees from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 09, 2009

A strange story, strangely told, with all direct speech, and they do a lot of talking to and shouting at each other in Lambeth, written to depict Maugham's idea of the dialect of London's East End. I was particularly amused when he said he couldn't give us a speaker's exact words, not even with a euphemism! I'm not fluent in Cockney but with a bit of concentration I understand enough to get by.... (LOL!)

The opening conversation follows as an example - I'm pretty sure I've captured the punctuation as printed:

'You'll be 'avin' your little trouble soon, eh, Polly?' asked one good lady of another one.
'Oh, I reckon I've got another two months ter go yet,' answered Polly.
'Well,' said a third, 'I wouldn't 'ave thought you'd go so long by the look of yer!'
'I 'ope you'll have it easier this time, my dear,' said a very stout old person, a woman of great importance.
'She said she wasn't goin' to 'ave no more, when the last one come.' This remark came from Polly's husband.
'Ah,' said the stout old lady, who was in the business, and boasted vast experience, 'That's wot they all says; but, Lor' bless yer, they don't mean it.'
'Well, I've got three, and I'm not goin' to 'ave no more bli'me if I will; 'tain't good enough - that's wot I says.'
'You're abaht right there, ole gal,' said Polly, 'My word, 'Arry, if you 'ave any more I'll git a divorce, that I will.'

The author's clearly aware of his superiority to the common people he's writing about but doesn't seem too patronising. A fine balance!

Thanks again, bluenoser, for an interesting slice of Victorian life.