SPOILERS Dodger **Spoilers**

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Tonyblack

Super Moderator
City Watch
Jul 25, 2008
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3,650
Cardiff, Wales
#61
I have no idea about Captain Blood so I am unable to comment. I thought that Dodger was more based on an alternative version of Dickens's Artful Dodger who hadn't been influenced by Fagin. He chose life in the sewers rather than in crime. Terry has stated that he enjoyed the books of Henry Mayhew, who actually appears in this book. Terry was particularly impressed with a book by Mayhew called "London Labour & The London Poor". Mayhew also wrote such books as: "The London Underworld in the Victorian Period", "London characters" and: "The criminal prisons of London". I think that Mayhew and his writings are more likely to be the basis for Dodger.

By the way, Rath. You don't need to use spoiler tags in a **Spoiler** thread. :)
 
Apr 10, 2021
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#63
Hi all. Can anyone tell me what Dodger understood when Mrs Mayhew says ‘You are a very astute young man’ ( p 85 in Doubleday hardback edition 2012) . His reply is ‘I’m sorry, missus, but my best trousers are in the wash’. Did he hear ‘suit’ ? But that seems a bit reaching for this context. Thanks
 
Apr 10, 2021
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#68
Thnx folks. Yes, thnx for that, all of you; def Cockney rhyming slang.. & I googled Molotov’s ‘arse toot’ & got this ; ‘Therefore, "arse toot" is likely a compound reference to flatulence (toot) coming from the buttocks (arse), or a combination of slang terms for the behind and a fart ( & maybe a soily fart … ( methinks) … hence trousers in the wash ) Cheers , nothing like scatological feedback
 
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