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Mrs Caudle's Curtain Lectures
Originally serialized in "PUNCH" in 1845, Mrs. Caudle's incessant petty lectures to her unfortunate husband--enacted in the matrimonial bed at the close of each day when he is compelled to lie and listen--are as hilarious and familiar today as when first penned. Introduction by Peter Ackroyd.
- GenresHumor
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1846
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About the author
Douglas William Jerrold
428 books3 followersDouglas Jerrold was a successful journalist, playwright, humorist and editor, eventually helping to create the great Punch. Among his most successful plays was Black Eyed Susan, which made his name.
Though his health, never good, became increasingly difficult as he got older, he never the less made many friends, including Charles Dickens, and had a great reputation to the end for his wit and good humor.
Though his health, never good, became increasingly difficult as he got older, he never the less made many friends, including Charles Dickens, and had a great reputation to the end for his wit and good humor.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 21, 2022
I honestly don't know how I came upon this during one of my regular jaunts through the Wikipedia wormhole. The title caught my eye and the premise seemed amusing.
The character of the shrewish wife is a rather stale one, and yet, the text reminded me how often I find myself delivering a 'lecture' to my partner before bed; it's so incredibly soothing and prepares one marvellously for sleep. Indeed, Mr and Mrs Caudle both seem to find the curtain lectures a wonderful soporific, for almost all end in one of the pair snoring away.
The book does come dangerously close to being repetitive - perhaps too close for some readers, though I still found it superior to Diary of a Nobody, with which it shares a particular type of humour.
The further I delved into the lectures, the more I found them an interesting mode of commentary on the circumscribed world of a particular class of Victorian womanhood. Beneath the comedic overtones there was something terribly sad about the very clear dependence of Mrs Caudle on Mr Caudle, and yet something touching, too, about the way Mr Caudle seems to (in a perverse way that is very human) enjoy and even encourage his wife's spirited lectures on his character.
The character of the shrewish wife is a rather stale one, and yet, the text reminded me how often I find myself delivering a 'lecture' to my partner before bed; it's so incredibly soothing and prepares one marvellously for sleep. Indeed, Mr and Mrs Caudle both seem to find the curtain lectures a wonderful soporific, for almost all end in one of the pair snoring away.
The book does come dangerously close to being repetitive - perhaps too close for some readers, though I still found it superior to Diary of a Nobody, with which it shares a particular type of humour.
The further I delved into the lectures, the more I found them an interesting mode of commentary on the circumscribed world of a particular class of Victorian womanhood. Beneath the comedic overtones there was something terribly sad about the very clear dependence of Mrs Caudle on Mr Caudle, and yet something touching, too, about the way Mr Caudle seems to (in a perverse way that is very human) enjoy and even encourage his wife's spirited lectures on his character.
September 26, 2023
VERY FUNNY AUDIO BY MARTIN CLIFTON, on LIBRIVOX (free) rating 5 stars. (Reading it may be 4 stars depending on how good an imagination you have). Apparently the author, British, lived during the same period as Charles Dickens. Each part can be listened to individually, so you can listen to a few minutes at a time. Martin Clifton's mild straight-laced voice is PERFECT. Too hilarious, unless you're married to her.
May 18, 2013
Mr Caudle's wife has died, but continues to nag and harangue him from beyond the grave. He exorcises her ghost by writing down everything he can remember of the lectures that she gave him every night when she had him at her mercy in the marital bed.
The lectures are really very funny, with Mr Caudle being blamed for everything that goes wrong in Mrs Caudle's life and also having to give in to her every whim, from a house in the country to a trip to France. I'm not convinced that the henpecked husband is quite as innocent as he makes out, but he is certainly browbeaten.
It's amusing and also provides an interesting perspective on the mid-19th century English family life of a prosperous small business owner/retailer.
The lectures are really very funny, with Mr Caudle being blamed for everything that goes wrong in Mrs Caudle's life and also having to give in to her every whim, from a house in the country to a trip to France. I'm not convinced that the henpecked husband is quite as innocent as he makes out, but he is certainly browbeaten.
It's amusing and also provides an interesting perspective on the mid-19th century English family life of a prosperous small business owner/retailer.
June 15, 2007
Written in the mid-1800's, the writer was a satirist, and this book was originally serialized in Punch. It is the fictitious autobiography of a man describing his marriage to a shrewish nag, and all the scoldings he received from her. The battle of the sexes hasn't changed much. Extremely funny.
December 16, 2017
My favorite bit was her criticism of Milton and Paradise Lost.
November 10, 2024
Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyitl...
July 5, 2013
Quite enjoyable taken in small doses, as was originally intended, but for me these pieces would have been funnier if we hadn't known this terrible nag had died. Just made me a bit uneasy.
July 9, 2010
Laugh-out-loud funny!
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July 5, 2014Tämä jäi siis kesken.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews