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| detective Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 11/1/2006 7:30:10 PM by detective | my uncle the clockmaker posted on: 11/1/2006 7:29:12 PM I have just started to read from the library Mary Howitt's local fiction story about My Uncle the Clockmaker. As its tells us on the front page that the villages have been renamed, how much can I presume is total fiction or do you think the characters are real and the descriptions of the day to day life are a good reflection on their lives then? Any guesses on the year too please? |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 11/1/2006 11:06:03 PM by RMMee |
my uncle the clockmaker
replied on: 11/1/2006 11:04:12 PM My Uncle the Clockmaker was published by Mary Howitt in 1844, but was undoubtedly written by her husband William Howitt, as were several books attributed to her. It concerns William's uncle, Francis Tantum, who made clocks in the early part of the 18th century. How much is fact/how much fiction? Difficult one! I haven't read the book myself, but I do personally consider local works of fiction as worth reading from a historical perspective. Most authors tend to base their descriptions, etc., on what they know. William Howitt knew the Heanor, Codnor and Loscoe areas, in which the book is set - he would have no reason to make up descriptive details, because he could describe what was actually there. (Though that is not to say that he could not and did not embellish the truth.) I have little doubt that day to day life was pretty similar to that described in the book. Presumably (or maybe not) you know that Leniscar, as described in the book, is actually Loscoe? |
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suzard
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
my uncle the clockmaker
replied on: 11/2/2006 12:24:41 PM On the Society's main page -Loscoe-mentions Dam House-the cottage mentioned in "My Uncle the Clockmaker" |
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detective
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my uncle the clockmaker
replied on: 11/4/2006 9:08:23 AM I would recommend anyone reading this book, although I am only up to page 16 at the moment! It is fasinating to try and link with today the sites mentioned. So far... a pub called the Cat & Fiddle (I wonder which one in the area it was - Gate Inn,Golden Ball, Coach & Horses, or nearer Heanor??), the windmill in a field by Mill Dam (Loscoe,)colourful descriptions of local characters especially Tom fletchers wife.. brillant.. I shall read on with enthusiam! |
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philfred
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my uncle the clockmaker
replied on: 11/13/2006 2:44:51 PM If you do a search on GoogleBooks using combinations of william, Mary and Howitt you may find something of interest. If you hit the jackpot there will be publications in pdf format to download. The surviving brain cells have galvanised in to action and recalled this one. In pdf format, a copy of "A Pictorial Calendar of the Seasons edited by Mary Howitt", published 1854 is on my hard drive, courtesy of GoogleBooks. The downloading of material from GoogleBooks for non-commercial use is allowed. The full terms and conditions are listed on the home page. If you have the time to search and download the site,it is a cracking way of building up a personal collection. The books on line cover a great variety of topics so you should find something of interest. regards Phil |
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detective
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my uncle the clockmaker
replied on: 11/14/2006 9:40:12 PM Thanks for the replies, I shall endeavour to give all a look in. |
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