What are some good long-winded title pages from old books and novels? [more inside]
posted by meadowlark lime on Nov 16, 2009 - 11 answers

Can anybody recommend a good nonfiction book to read about Jack the Ripper? I am not sure what book is considered to have better scholarship of so many books out there and am not remotely a "Ripperologist" (yet). Like the Zodiac killer, many folks have their own pet theories and the Ripper books are plentiful on Amazon. Any info on where to start to read about ol' Saucy Jack would be appreciated. (Feel free to name more than one title if you want.)_
posted by snap_dragon on Sep 22, 2009 - 22 answers

Given short notice, how can I dress in a Victorian/Steampunk sorta way? [more inside]
posted by chairface on Apr 3, 2009 - 17 answers

I'm trying to find a particular Victorian poem that contains a stanza depicting a peaceful cottage. [more inside]
posted by Lorna on Feb 17, 2009 - 7 answers

Can you please recommend some books on daily life, home life, and general society in the UK and the US in the 1840s - 1880s for me? I already have What Jane Austen Ate, and What Charles Dickens Knew and An Elegant Madness. It doesn't have to be specifically on daily life- creative nonfiction like Larson's The Devil in the White City or Johnson's The Ghost Map are awesome, too.
posted by headspace on Feb 16, 2009 - 13 answers

I'm looking for historical travel journals and books in the public domain. Specifically I'm interested in anything related to Victorian era exploration of the middle east and central Asia. [more inside]
posted by thewalrus on Jul 7, 2008 - 13 answers

Back in 1996, Heather and I visited our friend Jason in Bourne End, northwest of London, and spent a few days in Lynton, in Devon. There was a funicular from Lynton to Lynmouth, and we used to take the train from Lynton down into town and wander around in search of scrumpy. As we got off the railway, at the mouth of the Lyn, we found ourselves on the west bank of the Lyn, and IIRC there was a building right about there with the best ever Victorian-latinate-lingo "please curb your dog" sign I've ever seen. [more inside]
posted by schampeo on May 8, 2008 - 5 answers

What is the 19th Century illness that disfigures Esther Summerson of Dicken's Bleak House? [more inside]
posted by oneirodynia on Jan 6, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me find a Victorian style line art image that I simply cannot find! [more inside]
posted by santojulieta on Sep 24, 2007 - 7 answers

I'm looking for a large version of the classic Victorian "this way finger". A vector file would be ideal, but any large enough raster images would do as well. Also, what exactly would you call that thing? I know it would be considered a dingbat but I can't imagine shopowners ordering signs saying "Give me that finger thing, you know, the uhh, finger?" I was able to find some pointing fingers but they're too clean. The Victorian style in the first link is what I'm looking for.
posted by mjbraun on Jul 11, 2007 - 14 answers

I'd love some help with designing a sort of 'antique'/'vintage'/'dated' advert for my services. [more inside]
posted by dance on Sep 14, 2006 - 7 answers

I'm trying to find images of feminist protests... [more inside]
posted by speranza on Apr 23, 2006 - 10 answers

Looking for ideas for different vintage photograph treatments. i.e. not just duotones or hand colored. Or any other victorian inspiration you know of. [more inside]
posted by Brainy on Apr 7, 2006 - 12 answers

I've decided to tackle Browning's The Ring and The Book on my own. It is pretty daunting. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy on Mar 1, 2006 - 14 answers

Yet another font identification question. Kinda. Please come inside if you know anything about Scotch Roman. [more inside]
posted by Leon on Oct 30, 2005 - 5 answers

I need photographic images taken in the streets of Victorian London. [more inside]
posted by zadcat on Sep 9, 2005 - 2 answers

Looking for a link (posted on the blue before) of paintings by an artist who's art consisted of creepy Victorian style paintings of children/animal/technology nightmarish hybrids. The style was very similar to Mark Ryden's, but I'm convinced their not his...
posted by iamck on Feb 25, 2005 - 5 answers

More clothing-related japery!
So I'm an English major and pretty queer for most things Victoriana, and have been desirous of obtaining some natty duds in the Dandy style for... years now. The problem is that I'm something of a failure at all this fashion stuff. I am just no good at it. I don't dress like a slob, but I have no idea how one would go about obtaining, you know, waistcoats. Especially at reasonable prices, since I really don't have all that much discretionary income.

So: enlighten me! Where do you find these sorts of things for real bargain-basement prices? If you have specific regional advice, I live in Madison, WI and have easy access to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Otherwise, specific ebay strategies might be helpful? I find browsing the listings tedious, and although I have bid on things occasionally, there's always someone willing to pay more than me. Are there other sites worth looking at for this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance!
posted by kavasa on Nov 23, 2004 - 11 answers

I'm looking for a story written in Victorian times, which was basically the author predicting what everything would be like in the 1990's. I think it was in Project Gutenberg, and it had funny predictions such as that we'd all have wires going from our houses to local concert halls so we could listen to the 'latest music' in every room! This story has eluded me for some years now, and I want to read it again. And to avoid this becoming a useless 0 answer question, if anyone can recommend any other notable old stories or books which try to guess what the future would be like, this is the ideal place!
posted by wackybrit on Jul 12, 2004 - 20 answers

Whilst whittling away on a book within the confines of InDesign, I've come upon a question which is purely subjective in nature: If I wish to present this tome in as nice a fashion as possible, which font should I set the text in? I am looking for a beautiful serif, one which harkens back to the Victorian era, yet is easily readable in a smallish size (12pt).

In other words, friends, what is your favorite serif font? [more inside]
posted by tenseone on Jun 6, 2004 - 13 answers

What are some examples of Victorian novels with elaborate (and ridiculous) chapter titles? I know these ("In which our hero meets an extraordinary figure, who resolves some puzzles, and at last explains the purpose of his life, and the meaning of his many adventures") are satirical examples, but what about the genuine article? Are there particular authors (or genres) notorious for the practice?
posted by Aaorn on Mar 29, 2004 - 14 answers