I bought this book about a year ago - it is another one of those glorious Hesperus Classics - and was delighted to discover this unknown and neglected story by Charles Dickens.
Mrs Lirriper is a widow and sets up as a landlady. She is joined by a a long term lodger, the Major (though doubt is cast as to the truth of this title and he never seems to pay any rent) and when a young woman is seduced and abandoned by her lover and left pregnant, Mrs Lirriper and the Major take care of her. She dies in one of Dicken's heart rending death bed scenes, and Mrs Lirriper assures her she will take care of her son, who she calls Jemmy.
The Major becomes his godfather and Mrs Lirriper designates herself his grandmother and between the two of them, they love and devote themselves to Jemmy's upbringing.
I spotted in this week's Radio Times that the wonderful Radio 4 (a station I rank very highly indeed) was serializing this in three parts on Sunday afternoon with Julia McKenzie taking the title role with John Fortune as the Major.
I have seldom spent a more delightful hour. Julia McKenzie was quite wonderful and, as with all Dickens, it was funny, witty and a delight and also moved me to tears. The death of the young mother had me reaching for my hanky and the parting when young Jemmy left to go to school and told Mrs Lirriper she had been mother, father and everything to him had me totally awash.
I adore Dickens, always have done and this is a real find. Thank you Hesperus Press. Please go and out and get this lovely lovely book.
Oh, dear I am coming over all weepy again...
