The First Edition of 1892 by Arrowsmith Press
Forced
to go off-base as a result of uncertainty we availed of Thommo's
hospitality at his home where nine of us and a guest fitted snugly.
As a bonus KumKum provided the readers with zesty salmon sandwiches;
Pamela brought us Carmelo
chocolates and Geetha served nimbu
pani.
CJ, Gopa, Priya
The
refreshments were necessary
to accompany the readings which are full of references to Kinahan,
port, champagne, and whiskey,
moderately consumed throughout the Cummings and Gowings in the brief
novel.
KumKum, Preeti, Pamela
Our
anticipation of enjoying the humour was
well rewarded. We did not merely 'roar' with laughter at the droll
narrations in the book, but enhanced the situations by describing some of our
own, supplied by Sunil and Priya in response to the episode of the
obstreperous spoiled child, Master Percy.
Thommo, Sunil
It
is a wonder, as Thommo pointed out, that a century and a quarter
after publication the book remains in print, and its humour about
late-Victorian middle-class London is still accessible to us in Kochi
(barring some topical references). One reason may be that the
archetypes in the novel continue to exist in a different form in
modern India.
The group at the end (Preeti had to leave early):
%2BPriya%2C%2BPamela%2C%2BKumKum%2C%2BGopa.JPG)
(standing) Thommo, Sunil, Joe, CJ
(seated) Priya, Pamela, KumKum, Gopa
