Under Bow bells; a city book for all readers

Front matter

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V c

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Preface

The twenty-five stories and sketches which compose this book are selected from certain papers written and published by me, during the last two years, in the cc Household Words," They have been popular with the public and the press in a periodical form ; and I hope they will not lose any of their popularity or readable quality in the form of a book. They have been placed together because they all deal with, or revolve round, one centre — the City; and being written with this design of future united republication, they fall naturally into their appointed places, without any elaborate introduction, any material alteration, or any laboured connecting link. This gives them their claim to their first title of " Under Bow Bells." Their second title of ( ' A City book for all Readers" is given to them because, in accordance with the leading principle of the journal in which they originally appeared, they have endeavoured to retain some degree of fancy and imagination, while touching upon the driest subjects.

VI PREFACE.

In narrating the different stories and sketches, I am always speaking through the mouth of imaginary persons, except in the paper called Ci All Night on the Monument."

Of course I am personally responsible for all opinions contained in the book ; but the paper in question is a descriptive record of my actual experience.

In conclusion, I have to thank Mr. Charles Dickens for the permission to republish.

John Hollingshead.

London, October, 1859.