regshoe

There's all sorts! I especially enjoyed Lister's descriptions of getting books from the circulating library—the library was expanding and moving into new rooms, of which she criticises the arrangement; apparently you had to climb a ladder and 'creep up thro' a square hole cut in the floor above' to get into the main library from the entrance—and of attending public lectures in Halifax (and chatting up girls there). At one point she and her aunt visit the Lake District and she gives details of the meals they eat at the various inns they stay at along the way and how good or bad the food is. At the coronation of George IV Lister, like a loyal pro-monarchist, details that all the farm workers, domestic servants and other people employed on the Shibden estate got a shilling each, 'a good additional quantity of beer to drink the king's health', a bowl of punch and a supper of roast beef. There are lots of specific details of how much she paid for this or that item, or what the arrangements were for travelling to such and such a place, which I think would be very useful for anyone writing fiction about the period.