Perambulatory Christmas Books, part 11
JC
Perambulatory Christmas Books, 5th series, part XI: Our purpose has been to stave off Christmas gift-book blues by touring the capital’s secondhand bookshops, in search of a neglected work by an established author, for about £5. We do not seek collectibles or firsts (although each has come our way). All our books are bought to be read.
The best used bookshop in London, from our lowly perspective, is Any Amount of Books in Charing Cross Road. It was there, five years ago, that we found in the outdoor barrows Edmund Blunden’s The Face of England (1932), priced £1, and read the opening paragraph. No one could write like that now, we thought; the tune has been lost. We asked ourselves why, and with that the good ship Perambulation was launched.
Our most recent purchase at Any Amount was that unusual thing, a novel by George Gissing which is neither New Grub Street nor The Odd Women. Thyrza was published in three volumes in 1887. It is a romantic story with a tragic ending – damn you, Gissing – but we recommend it highly. In Chapter IV, poor but beautiful Thyrza sings in the Prince Albert pub down the Lambeth Walk. The stroll to the pub shows the author doing one of the things he does better than almost any English novelist, painting street scenes:
"Everywhere was laughter and interchange of good-fellowship. Women sauntered the length of the street for the pleasure of picking out the best and cheapest bundle of rhubarb . . . . From stalls where whelks were sold rose the pungency of vinegar; above all was distinguishable the acrid exhalation from the shops where fried fish and potatoes hissed in boiling grease . . . to be eaten on the spot, or taken away wrapped in newspaper".
It’s sing-song night at the Albert – “a seedy youth at the piano was equal to any demand for accompaniment” – and our heroine is pressed to do a turn. “At the end she was singing her best – better than she had ever sung at home, better than she thought she could sing. The applause that followed was tumultuous. By this time much beer had been consumed.”
The asking price for a 1927 Nash & Grayson hardback was £8, more than our limit. As we had a few supplementary purchases, the kind gentleman at Any Amount knocked a few quid off the total.
I HAVE BEEN READING THIS BACK PAGE FOR SOME TIME NOW..ENJOYING ALMOST BEST OF ALL...BUT TODAY THE PAGE IS JUST GRAND...ALL OF IT. NOW I AM LOOKING FOR THE SOURCE OF SUCH PLEASURE. WHO IS J.C.
Posted by: KATHLEEN B COLLINS | 22 Dec 2011 00:18:19
J.C. is Jesus Christ.
Can't you tell by his long tail?
If only he would stop dragging it on the ground.
It screws up my carefully raked path.
Nothing like Lucifer, though.
Posted by: Clayton Burns | 22 Dec 2011 02:24:05
I do believe JC in this case is James Campbell, though presumably if his identity is to remain a (relative) secret, this comment will never see the light of day
Posted by: Joe Luttrell | 25 Dec 2011 22:34:45
Kathleen B. Collins: "Who is J.C."
J.C. is James Campbell, Scotsman of letters, author and veteran TLS contributor.
Posted by: Scott Lahti | 27 Dec 2011 01:18:37
Literalist factification seemingly wins out again.
"James Campbell" is Jesus Christ in his modern guise.
Where else but from Scotland?
Jesus is known to drive a hard bargain.
Posted by: Clayton Burns | 30 Dec 2011 20:15:04