Of late, as well as deep, deep 12th century research, I have been writing a series of monographs to be published on Amazon as Kindle ebooks.

The decision to write some short books on various strange subjects came from my increasingly frustrating search for research books at an affordable price. (As well as a means to earn a living!!)

There is no way that I can afford £50-£100 for a book which may be of minimal help.

A case in point – whilst searching for titles about Thieves Cant and 18th Century London I came across a very nice publication. Only problem……the $200 price tag. Eeek.

Anyway. This weekend I FINALLY, with sweat and blood and many tears, finished and uploaded my first little book of a new series called ‘A Greta Brookes Monograph.’

I have begun this series with a redacted and annotated (as in short, edited and with my own footnotes) version of The Scoundrel’s Dictionary which is an anonymous 18th century pamphlet that was printed in London in 1754.

The original title is :

THE SCOUNDREL’S DICTIONARY

OR AN

EXPLANATION

OF THE

CANT WORDS

Used by Thieves, House-breakers, Street-Robbers

 & Pick-pockets about Town

To which is prefixed

Some Curious DISSERTATIONS on the

ART of WHEEDLING,

And a collection of their FLASH SONGS,

With a proper GLOSSARY.

The Whole printed from a copy taken on one of their

Gang, in the late Scuffle, between the Watchmen

And a Party of them on Clerkenwell-Green; which

Copy is now in the Custody of one of the Constables

Of that Parish

LONDON

Printed for J. BROWNNELL, in Pater-noster Row.

MDCCLIV

WOW! I love these old titles. They kind of explain everything you need to know about the text.

It is available to buy here on Amazon

 

 

I’m now putting together a longer monograph called The Power of Clothes to Deceive: Cross-Dressing in the Middle Ages.

Living in hope of an audience. Yay.