In 'Curiosities of the Old Lottery' by Henry M. Brooks, readers are taken on a fascinating journey through the history and intricacies of the old lottery system. The book delves into the cultural significance of lotteries in different time periods, as well as the economic and social impacts they had on society. Brooks presents his research in a clear and engaging manner, making it accessible to both casual readers and scholars alike. Through his detailed exploration of this lesser-known aspect of history, Brooks sheds light on the complexities of chance and fortune in the past. The book is a valuable contribution to the field of cultural history, offering new insights into a widely misunderstood topic. Henry M. Brooks, a historian with a specialization in 18th-century economic practices, is uniquely qualified to tackle the subject of old lotteries. His meticulous research and deep understanding of the time period allow him to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic. His passion for uncovering forgotten aspects of history shines through in his writing, making the book an engaging and enlightening read. I highly recommend 'Curiosities of the Old Lottery' to anyone interested in the intersection of economics, culture, and history. Brooks' well-researched and thought-provoking exploration of old lotteries will broaden your understanding of society in the past and present.

A seemingly ordinary village participates in a yearly lottery to determine a sacrificial victim.

Contains articles on the White Mountains and a map.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of British novelist CHARLES DICKENS (1812-1870) not only to literature in the English language, but to Western civilization on the whole. He is arguably the first fiction writer to have become an international celebrity. He popularized episodic fiction and the cliffhanger, which had a profound influence on the development of film and television. He is entirely responsible for the popular image of Victorian London that still lingers today, and his characters-from Oliver Twist to Ebenezer Scrooge, from Miss Havisham to Uriah Heep-have become not merely iconic, but mythic. But it was his stirring portraits of ordinary people-not the upper classes or the aristocracy-and his fervent cries for social, moral, and legal justice for the working poor, and in particular for poor children, in the grim early decades of the Industrial Revolution that powerfully impacted social concerns well into the 20th century. Without Charles Dickens, we may never have seen the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Upton Sinclair, or even Bob Dylan. Here, in 30 beautiful volumes-complete with all the original illustrations-is every published word written by one of the most important writers ever. The essential collector's set will delight anyone who cherishes English literature...and who takes pleasure in constantly rediscovering its joys. This volume contains Part I of The Old Curiosity Shop, which was originally serialized in Dickens's own periodical, Master Humphrey's Clock, in 1840 and 1841. The story of the orphan Nell Trent, who lives with her grandfather in the establishment by which the book takes its name, it is both beloved and disparaged for Dickens's treatment of, as Oscar Wilde famously termed it, "the death of little Nell," the suspense surrounding which was comparable to the Harry Potter phenomenon of today.