In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, bare knuckle boxing was one of Britain's most popular sports. It had its own slang: it was the world of the Fancy, of milling coves and prime goods, bucks and novices, gluttons and swells. This distinctive and racy slang has influenced many writers, as I described in a talk at the Hawkesbury Upton Litfest's Festival of Words on Saturday 22 April 2023. This is a transcript of the talk.   The Game Chicken awakened in Miss Nipper some considerable astonishment; for, having been defeated by the Larkey Boy, his visage was in a state of such great dilapidation, as to be hardly presentable in society with comfort to the beholders. The Chicken himself attributed this punishment to his having had the misfortune to get into Chancery early in the proceedings, when he was severely fibbed by the Larkey one, and heavily grassed. But it appeared from the published records of that great contest that the Larkey Boy had had it all his own way from the ...

The Contraband Killings : A Dan Foster Mystery is on a blog tour this week (5-11 December 2022). The tour will feature unique extracts, reviews and guest blogs. The schedule is below, and the links will go live as the blogs are published. Anglesey 1799: Bow Street Runner Dan Foster is sent to fetch smuggler Watcyn Jones from prison on Anglesey to stand trial for murder at the Old Bailey in London. When the prison escort is ambushed and Watcyn Jones escapes, a straightforward prison transfer turns into a desperate manhunt.   As Jones’s enemies start to die, the chase becomes more urgent than ever – and Dan’s chances of getting off the island alive begin to look far from promising. Out now at Amazon ( Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com ).     Blog Tour Schedule Monday 5 December 2022 Jera's Jamboree  - Review.   Northernreader The Book Decoder - Review Tuesday 6 December 2022 Kathryn Books - Review Sharon Beyond the Books - Review Celticlady's Reviews  Wednes...