Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures by JERROLD, Douglas William

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Douglas William Jerrold (1803-1857) was the son of an actor manager. After some time in the Navy and as an apprentice printer he became a playwright and later a journalist. He was a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens. As a journalist he worked for Punch magazine in which Mrs Caudle's Curtain Lectures were serialised, to be published in book form in 1846.Job Caudle, the 'hero' of the book is a Victorian shopkeeper whose wife finds she can only talk to him without interruption in bed. Caudle, who outlives his wife, finds he can no longer sleep easily because of his memory of these 'lectures' and resolves to exorcise his wife's memory by recording the lectures, it seems with a view to future publication for the edification of others. Jerrold's humour shines through this insight into Victorian middle class culture. (Summary by Martin Clifton)

8 minutes 45 seconds
Introduction
6 minutes 22 seconds
Lecture 1: Mr. Caudle has lent five pounds to a friend
7 minutes 11 seconds
Lecture 2: Mr. Caudle has been at a tavern with a friend, and is “enough to poison a woman” with tobacco smoke
7 minutes 39 seconds
Lecture 3: Mr. Caudle joins a club – “The Skylarks”
2 minutes 56 seconds
Lecture 4: Mr. Caudle has been called from his bed to bail Mr. Prettyman from the watch-house
4 minutes 19 seconds
Lecture 5: Mr. Caudle has remained downstairs till past one, with a friend
6 minutes 23 seconds
Lecture 6: Mr. Caudle has lent an acquaintance the family umbrella
6 minutes 28 seconds
Lecture 7: Mr. Caudle has ventured a remonstrance on his day’s dinner: cold mutton and no pudding – Mrs Caudle defends the cold shoulder
6 minutes 8 seconds
Lecture 8: Caudle has been made a mason – Mrs Caudle indignant and curious
6 minutes 2 seconds
Lecture 9: Mr Caudle has been to Greenwich fair
6 minutes 29 seconds
Lecture 10: On Mr. Caudle’s shirt buttons
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