Miss Philly Firkin, The China-Woman E-Book

Mary Russell Mitford

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

In "Miss Philly Firkin, The China-Woman," Mary Russell Mitford offers a compelling exploration of the life and struggles of a working-class woman in 19th-century England. The narrative brilliantly blends realism with a touch of social commentary, capturing the nuances of character and dialogue that reveal the intricacies of class and gender during this period. Mitford's literary style is marked by her keen observational skills and ability to imbue her characters with a distinct personality, making them resonate with readers. The novel is set against the backdrop of industrialization, showcasing the socio-economic challenges faced by ordinary individuals while drawing on the rich tradition of British women's writing that champions the domestic sphere and individual resilience. Mary Russell Mitford, an influential novelist and playwright, had a lifelong interest in the lives of the rural poor and the intricacies of everyday existence. Born in 1787, she was known for her vivid portrayals of village life, likely influenced by her own experiences in a small community. Mitford's dedication to capturing the voices of marginalized individuals is evident in this work, reflecting her pioneering spirit as one of the first women to write about such themes with depth and sincerity. "Miss Philly Firkin, The China-Woman" is recommended to readers who appreciate rich character-driven narratives that delve into social issues. Mitford'Äôs insightful portrayal of Miss Philly Firkin invites readers to empathize with the struggles of her heroine, making this book not only an engaging read but also a significant contribution to women's literature and the understanding of class dynamics in the early 19th century.

Leseprobe

Mary Russell Mitford

Miss Philly Firkin, The China-Woman

Published by Good Press, 2020

[email protected]

EAN 4064066106065

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

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In Belford Regis, as in many of those provincial capitals of the south of England, whose growth and importance have kept pace with the increased affluence and population of the neighbourhood, the principal shops will be found clustered in the close, inconvenient streets of the antique portion of the good town; whilst the more showy and commodious modern buildings are quite unable to compete in point of custom with the old crowded localities, which seem even to derive an advantage from the appearance of business and bustle occasioned by the sharp turnings, the steep declivities, the narrow causeways, the jutting-out windows, and the various obstructions incident to the picturesque but irregular street-architecture of our ancestors.

Accordingly, Oriel Street, in Belford—a narrow lane, cribbed and confined on the one side by an old monastic establishment, now turned into alms-houses, called the Oriel, which divided the street from that branch of the river called the Holy Brook, and on the other bounded by the market-place, whilst one end abutted on the yard of a great inn, and turned so sharply up a steep acclivity that accidents happened there every day, and the other terminus wound with an equally awkward curvature round the churchyard of St. Stephen's—this most strait and incommodious avenue of shops was the wealthiest quarter of the Borough. It was a provincial combination of Regent Street and Cheapside. The houses let for double their value; and, as a necessary consequence, goods sold there at pretty nearly the same rate; horse-people and foot-people jostled upon the pavement; coaches and phaetons ran against each other in the road. Nobody dreamt of visiting Belford without wanting something or other in Oriel Street; and although noise, and crowd, and bustle, be very far from usual attributes of the good town, yet in driving through this favoured region on a fine day, between the hours of three and five, we stood a fair chance of encountering as many difficulties and obstructions from carriages, and as much din and disorder on the causeway as we shall often have the pleasure of meeting with out of London.

One of the most popular and frequented shops in the street, and out of all manner of comparison the prettiest to look at, was the well-furnished glass and china warehouse of Philadelphia Firkin, spinster. Few things are indeed more agreeable to the eye than the mixture of glittering cut glass, with rich and delicate china, so beautiful in shape, colour, and material, which adorn a nicely-assorted showroom of that description. The manufactures of Sèvres, of Dresden, of Derby, and of Worcester, are really works of art, and very beautiful ones too; and even the less choice specimens have about them a clearness, a glossiness, and a nicety, exceedingly pleasant to look upon; so that a china-shop is in some sense a shop of temptation: and that it is also a shop of necessity, every housekeeper who knows to her cost the infinite number of plates, dishes, cups, and glasses, which contrive to get broken in the course of the year, (chiefly by that grand demolisher of crockery ware called Nobody,) will not fail to bear testimony.