Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures

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

Introduction	8:45	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 1: Mr. Caudle has lent five pounds to a friend	6:22	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 2: Mr. Caudle has been at a tavern with a friend, and is “enough to poi…	7:11	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 3: Mr. Caudle joins a club – “The Skylarks”	7:39	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 4: Mr. Caudle has been called from his bed to bail Mr. Prettyman from t…	2:56	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 5: Mr. Caudle has remained downstairs till past one, with a friend	4:19	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 6: Mr. Caudle has lent an acquaintance the family umbrella	6:23	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 7: Mr. Caudle has ventured a remonstrance on his day’s dinner: cold mut…	6:28	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 8: Caudle has been made a mason – Mrs Caudle indignant and curious	6:08	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 9: Mr Caudle has been to Greenwich fair	6:02	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 10: On Mr. Caudle’s shirt buttons	6:29	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 11: Mrs Caudle suggests the her dear mother should “come and live with …	7:40	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 12: Mr. Caudle having come home a little late, declares that henceforth…	7:05	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 13: Mrs Caudle has been to see her dear mother – Caudle on the “joyful …	5:38	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 14: Mrs Caudle thinks it “high time” that the children should have summ…	7:27	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 15: Mr. Caudle again stayed out late. Mrs Caudle, at first injured and …	7:18	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 16: Baby is to be christened; Mrs Caudle canvasses the merits of probab…	7:41	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 17: Caudle in the course of the day has ventured to question the econom…	7:11	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 18: Caudle, whilst walking with his wife, has been bowed to by a younge…	6:56	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 19: Mrs Caudle thinks “it would look well to keep their wedding-day”	7:23	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 20: “Brother” Caudle has been to a Masonic charitable dinner. Mrs Caudl…	7:26	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 21: Mr. Caudle has not acted “like a husband” at the wedding dinner	7:47	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 22: Caudle comes home in the evening, as Mrs Caudle has “just stepped o…	7:43	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 23: Mrs Caudle “wishes to know if they’re going to the sea-side, or not…	7:41	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 24: Mrs Caudle dwells on Caudle’s “cruel neglect” of her on board the “…	7:47	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 25: Mrs Caudle, wearied of Margate, has “a great desire to see France”	8:10	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 26: Mrs Caudle’s first night in France – “shameful indifference” of Cau…	7:21	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 27: Mrs Caudle returns to her native land. “Unmanly cruelty” of Caudle,…	7:47	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 28: Mrs Caudle has returned home. The house (of course) “not fit to be …	6:12	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 29: Mrs Caudle thinks “the time has come to have a cottage out of town”	8:17	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 30: Mrs Caudle complains of the “Turtle Dovery”. Discovers black beetle…	7:25	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 31: Mrs Caudle complains very bitterly that Mr. Caudle has “broken her …	8:02	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 32: Mrs Caudle discourses of maids-of-all-work and maids in general. Mr…	7:08	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 33: Mrs Caudle has discovered that Caudle is a railway director	7:36	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 34: Mrs Caudle, suspecting that Mr. Caudle has made his will, is only “…	7:36	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture 35: Mrs Caudle “has been told “ that Caudle has “taken to play” at bill…	7:35	Read by Martin Clifton
Lecture the Last: Mrs Caudle has taken cold; the tragedy of thin shoes	5:16	Read by Martin Clifton
Postscript	1:55	Read by Martin Clifton

Reviews

So Glad I Found This!

(5 stars)

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.

Rants of a Frustrated Housewife.

(4 stars)

janene f

i doubt there are many who are as amused as I was by this. I was entertained for hours, and charmed by Martin Clifton's reading. I could picture the Caudles lying there side by side at the end of the day in their marital bed, while she gives vent to her long and elaborate complaints. She goes wildly astray with "what if" scenarios and at long last worn out from her martyrdom falls asleep. Thank you for this oddity in the book world.

(5 stars)

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!

(2 stars)

zafiris

I listened to 7 chapters hoping the book would improve but just couldn’t continue. Mr Caudle is one frustrated woman who nags and nags her poor husband. There is nothing to laugh about. Maybe the book got funnier but enough is enough. The narrator is very good but he couldn’t improve things for me.

Wow! What an amazing find.

(5 stars)

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!