tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post5562014350058407769..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: Department of Clarification: Plush shorts and cottonsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-31100433213779792402018-06-13T04:42:21.308-04:002018-06-13T04:42:21.308-04:00Hi - I am the author of the novel Death and Mr Pic...Hi - I am the author of the novel Death and Mr Pickwick, published by Random House in 2015, which tells the story behind the creation of The Pickwick Papers. I don't think we have communicated before - my memory is getting worse! - though I am pretty certain I have seen this website before. Anyway, one of my fans has just pointed out your page to me, with your investigation of this phrase in Pickwick. I think you are probably right in your interpretation of the phrase, but it is a bit mysterious. The thing is, there are a number of unanswered historical questions relating to The Pickwick Papers - there is no definitive annotated version. A few years ago, a person was in fact working on a complete guide to Pickwick - this was the late Dr David Parker, the former curator of the Dickens Museum. He was meticulously going through the text, and investigating every historical mystery, phrase by phrase. However, he abandoned the project when he was about halfway through. What happened is a bit unclear. It seems he had some kind of dispute with his publisher. But he also told me that he was 'getting lazy', and said that he was drinking too much. He died suddenly a couple of years ago, so the project remains unfinished and unpublished, alas. Anyway, I will share your link on the Death and Mr Pickwick facebook page, www.facebook.com/deathandmrpickwick You can find out more about Death and Mr Pickwick at www.deathandmrpickwick.com All the best Stephen JarvisStephen Jarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06131684050764917199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-42801439506156251832009-09-01T19:56:34.155-04:002009-09-01T19:56:34.155-04:00Oh, yes! Please do a footmen blog!Oh, yes! Please do a footmen blog!Vanessa Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14571549124283013391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-4746534915505702852009-09-01T11:12:50.637-04:002009-09-01T11:12:50.637-04:00Lauren Lee, "inexpressibles" is a euphem...Lauren Lee, "inexpressibles" is a euphemism for men's trousers, breeches, etc. We think the euphemism started because some of the materials for men's pants was very tight and stretchy and...um...expressive. Susan, I think he did have a gift for the names, and got better at it as time passed. Michelle, great minds think alike. After writing this, I realized we need a Footmen blog: tall, good-looking, well-built guys in clothes that display their musclely assets. Vanessa, I'd give one of my few remaining vital organs to create the kinds of visual images Dickens does.Loretta Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170060214285828433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-85648353613318835582009-09-01T09:21:22.970-04:002009-09-01T09:21:22.970-04:00Dickens does rule. I can really visualize that co...Dickens does rule. I can really visualize that condescending gent in his plush shorts and cottons.Vanessa Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14571549124283013391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-76402266266955411552009-09-01T07:10:24.054-04:002009-09-01T07:10:24.054-04:00This is the part I love: the gentleman who condes...This is the part I love: <i> the gentleman who condescended to appear in plush shorts and cottons for a quarterly stipend</i>. I would hire one such as he, were he comely. And spot on, Susan. -- Rock on, NHGs!Michelle Buonfigliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06518257512285810829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-45933072748216610442009-09-01T06:57:01.380-04:002009-09-01T06:57:01.380-04:00Good work with the clarification, Loretta! You loo...Good work with the clarification, Loretta! You look quite fetching in that deerstalker hat, too.<br /><br />Mr. Perker and Job Trotter. ::sigh:: has there ever been any other author with such an ear for names as Dickens?Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-91116642239306010832009-08-31T19:04:26.479-04:002009-08-31T19:04:26.479-04:00Thank you so much for the definitions, Loretta. Ve...Thank you so much for the definitions, Loretta. Very interesting about cotton not being cotton and the footman in his plush breeches. Dare I ask about the inexpessibles?<br />So much for you Nerdy History Girls to teach us Gentle Readers, and how we appreciate it!Lauren Leenoreply@blogger.com