Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures
Douglas William Jerrold
Read by Martin Clifton
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) (4 hr 21 min)
Chapters
Reviews
So Glad I Found This!
A LibriVox Listener
Excellent story & reader! I couldn't stop listening till I had finished the whole thing. I haven't laughed like this in so long.
bleakhousebookshop.com
Thank you for this superbly read book. I love it so much, I’m listening again! What a beautiful way to escape hard times. Great job!
Wow! What an amazing find.
gtrmike
A true classic. One of the funniest books ever and it really captures the essence of a great relationship. I couldn't stop listening. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a light and humorous story. The reader was phenomenal! Five stars for sure!
mrs Caudle's Curtain Lecture
The Book Guru
Laugh out loud funny ~ utterly delightful anecdotes ~ immensely enjoyable!!!
Great book!
Amanda Rose
great work by the reader. excellent job!
Tekla
Very funny lost classic with a truly excellent reader.
well written and well read. not long enough.
A LibriVox Listener
really unique will listen again thank you
Annie