On a less serious note, the cant language used by Mr Hammond, Sprat, Binny, Kate Holt, Lowry and, on occasion, Helen comes mostly from Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue written by Francis Grose and updated by Pierce Egan. It was published in 1785, and revised in 1811 and 1823, and is now available free online. The dictionary is a fascinating journey back to the Regency era and I wish I could have used more of the hilarious words and phrases, although a good number of them are quite obscene. Here are a few of the more respectable examples that didn’t suit the book but that I just have to share with you:
Chatter-broth: tea
Squeeze-crab: a sour-looking shrivelled fellow
Snilch: to look at something attentively
Out of print: slang used by booksellers to describe someone who is dead
This last one cracks me up every time!
As with Book 1 in the series, if you would like to learn a bit more about my research, you can do so on my website at www.darkdaysclub.com and on my Pinterest page at pinterest.com/alisongoodman
Alison Goodman, October 2016
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the big cornerstone four: Ron, my wonderful husband, my best friend Karen McKenzie, and my parents, Douglas and Charmaine Goodman.
Huge thanks, always, to Jill Grinberg, my fabulous agent, and her exceptional team: Cheryl, Katelyn, Denise and Kirsten. The best in the business!
I am privileged to work with a fantastic team at HarperCollins Australia headed by my lovely publisher, Lisa Berryman, who adores the Regency as much as I do and understands that a book needs air. I am lucky to be edited by the brilliant and insightful Nicola O’Shea, and scheduled by the charming Kate Burnitt, who calmly smooths the road to publication. Thanks also to the wonderful Holly Frendo and Jacqui Barton, and the very talented Darren Holt, who designed the beautiful cover.
I am a big believer in the value of writing groups and the support they provide. Big thanks to my two gangs: The Y. & J. Writers, and Clan Destine.
A number of people have helped with my research along the way. Thank you to Duncan Nash, John Garden-Gardiner, Alan Baxter, and the staff at the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.
My sincere thanks also to the two back specialists who are keeping me upright while I write Lady Helen’s adventures: my chiropractor Dr Warren Sipser, and my physiotherapist Natalie Szmerling.
Finally, I must acknowledge the sweet hound from Hell, Xander, my dear old-man dog whose main contributions are loud snoring, louder barking and an insistent paw that taps my leg at four o’clock every afternoon to remind me that a daily walk is most beneficial for the constitution.