The Wit of the Victorians

[yorkshirecath]

I bought this book today and whilst i haven't read through it completely it appears very funny. It's a look at Victorian life from snippets taken from the newspapers of the day.
For instance, there is one story that made me laugh out loud.

'An extraordinary incident occurred today at the Dundee public baths, where a boy, disregarding the rules, jumped in to bathe whilst the water was being let off, and was drawn by the powerful suction through a pipe, only twelve inches in diameter, and more than twenty feet in length, and ejected into the River Tay, where, although bruised, torn and bleeding, he fortunately rose to the surface and swam ashore'
|biggrin||biggrin||biggrin|

Cath x

[Ladkyis]

EEEeeeeek!!

[v.wells]

EEEeeeeek!!

I have just read a Victorian book describing life in Devon and what makes me really laugh is the grammar and language used in describing events. Long drawn out and very wordy|laugh1| They certainly had the gift of gab in those days!

[Jan1954]

I have just read a Victorian book describing life in Devon and what makes me really laugh is the grammar and language used in describing events. Long drawn out and very wordy|laugh1| They certainly had the gift of gab in those days!
Vanessa - did you see this: http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30215

[v.wells]

I may try to use "fopgoodle" - I like the sound of that one!:D

[Jan1954]

Apparently fopdoodle means "fool". http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee187/Jan_07/smiley_jester.gif

[v.wells]

Beats calling anyone a disgusting name (which I can't post for ethical reasons)!:D

[KittyD]

My boyfriend bought me a book for my birthday last year which is all about the weird names Victorian people gave their children, it's frankly quite rude ;) but very entertaining. If anyone would like to have a look at it, it's called 'Potty, Fartwell and Knob' - I can't remember the name of the author off the top of my head - but it's been a great read so far :)

[Jan1954]

Ooh, Finbar! I can see my "word of the week" at work having a new source! :D

[Jan1954]

You could start by making sure no one drumbles Jan!:)Excellent, Finbar! I am trying to put the "fun" back into dysfunctional... ;)


KittyD,

"Potty, Fartwell and Knob" - Author is Russell Ash
Published by Headline (Oct 2007)
ISBN-10: 0755316541

[benny1982]

Hi

I wonder if there are many more words used in 1879 that are not in use today?

I also love the local dialects of counties.

Ben

[Thomasin]

Yex is not forgotten, it's a very useful word in Scrabble, when you want to get rid of odd, high value letters!

Thomasin