No Such Thing As A Ham Bag

Amy Cruse's book examines the reading practices of Victorians during the first half of Queen Victoria's reign, drawing from diaries, letters, and fictional representations in novels to reconstruct the everyday reader's world. She creates vivid scenes of middle-class households and analyzes popular genres like silver-fork novels, dissenting fiction, useful knowledge books, Pickwick Papers, moral poetry, and Romantic works. The book highlights how reading shaped public taste and influenced literary output.

First published in 1870, this dictionary is a 'museum of literary odds and ends' that elucidates the etymology of some 20,000 unusual and everyday words and phrases. It draws on a lifetime's reading by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer and includes diverse subjects such as history, literature, mythology, and magic. The book has been continually updated and revised, with the most recent edition being the 20th edition published in 2018 by Susie Dent.

Death Writ Large is a linguistic mystery novel set in the city of Oxford. When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around the city, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognizes them from an alphabet created by a deceased writer whose papers she once worked on. When a university lecturer is found dead near similar graffiti, Martha and her colleagues are called upon to lend their linguistic expertise to the case. As they unearth a tragedy extending beyond the university's ancient walls, they discover that a spirit of vengeance is stalking the city's streets, with new messages portending more death.

This adaptation was first performed in the fall of 1838, before the full text of Dickens' original novel had been released. It is a serio-comic burletta that deviates from the original novel, and Dickens himself was reportedly horrified by the performance. The adaptation highlights the theatrical interpretation of Dickens' work during the Victorian era.

The novel tells the story of two Chuzzlewits, Martin and Jonas, and their diverse fates. Young Martin Chuzzlewit, an apprentice architect, is disinherited by his grandfather after falling in love with Mary Graham, the grandfather's companion. Martin and his servant, Mark Tapley, travel to the United States, where they face various misadventures. The novel satirizes American society, highlighting hypocrisy, greed, and other social ills. It also features notable characters like Seth Pecksniff and Mrs. Gamp, and introduces one of the first literary private detective characters, Mr. Nadgett. The story ultimately resolves with Martin's moral redemption and reconciliation with his grandfather.

The novel follows the story of Amy Dorrit, known as Little Dorrit, who is born and raised in the Marshalsea debtors' prison in London. Her father, William Dorrit, is imprisoned for debt and becomes known as the 'Father of the Marshalsea'. The story explores themes of poverty, societal injustice, and the constraints of the prison system. It also delves into the lives of other characters, including Arthur Clennam, who becomes involved in the Dorrit family's affairs. The novel satirizes the British class system and the inefficiencies of the government, particularly through the fictional 'Circumlocution Office'. As the Dorrits' fortune changes dramatically, the novel examines the impact of wealth and social status on individuals and society.

Jacqueline Goldfinger's adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' is a family-friendly version that includes music, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences. This play retains the core themes and characters of the original while adding a musical element to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact.

Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique. The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past. The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.

Guilty By Definition follows Martha Thornhill, the new senior editor at the Clarendon English Dictionary, as she returns to her hometown after a decade abroad. An anonymous letter arrives, hinting at secrets and lies related to the year her brilliant and beautiful older sister Charlie went missing. As Martha and her colleagues delve into the clues, they uncover a series of secret absences going back centuries. The book is a nuanced exploration of grief, guilt, and the emotional aftershocks of Charlie's disappearance, set against the backdrop of a intriguing mystery and the city of Oxford.