Reviews coming in already for the Tyger, out on 10 December:

'A superb book. The story held me from start to finish'

'What a fantastic read!'

Available in eBook and paperback.
#bloodhoundbooks #amazon #18thcenturyLondon #Londonhistory #animalmenageries #coventgardenlondon #history #londonhistory

My book THE TYGER STRIPED BOY will be out in December.
Buckle up for a tale of 18th century intrigue and shocking drama.
#historicalfiction #18thcenturyLondon #Londonhistory #animalmenagerie

Love, Death + Robots. Vol. 4: Porque sabe arrastrarse ; ESTRENO NETFLIX #netflix #LoveDeathAndRobots, #Vol4, #ForHeCanCreep, #EmilyDean, #Netflix2025, #LoveDeathRobots4, #NetflixOriginal, #18thCenturyLondon, #PoetryAndPower youtu.be/O5-c7YYtb6g

[1794 Edition] Miss Cr-md-n, 15 St. Alban’s Street, Piccadilly. ----- With thee I’d break through laws divine and human. And think them cobwebs spread for little man, Which all the bulky herd of nature breaks. The vig’rous young world was ignorant Of all restrictions. ’Tis deceit now. Not more devout, but more decay’d and old. Restrains of reason, ties of blood, marriage vows, and prudential maxims, are all weak barriers when Miss C------appears, opens her arms, and excites to pleasure. Her teeth invite the burning kiss, her feature tall but quite genteel. Her complexion pleases the eye, and her soft plump body rebounds from the close embrace, and demands repeated pressures. Her yielding limbs, though beautiful when together, are still more ravished when separated; and, when properly placed between them, we may cry out with the poet Addison, I’m lost in ecstasy. How shall I speak the transports of my soul? I’m so bless’d, I fear ’tis all a dream. Other beauties, indeed, may give equal joys, but few like Miss C -can continue them; others may forge chains, and put them on their lovers, but few, like her, can rivet them. Her great prudence, uncommon with the sisterhood, keeps her admirers attached to her, and none can quit her but with regret. From strangers (who must be gentlemen) she expects a genteel compliment but, when once acquainted, she abates in her demands, in proportion as she increases in her attachment. She has light brown hair, fine eyes, sings and dances to perfection, and not more than sixteen years of age; has not been in trade more than a twelvemonth, in which short time she has had the good fortune to procure for herself a very good keeper in the person of Major C, whose name she assumes. ----- Images: Le printemps – Alexandre Marie Colin (1820-1830), Four Times of the Day: Morning – William Hogarth (1738), Carlton House the Prince Regent's Palace - Richard Holmes Laurie (1818)

[1794 Edition] Miss Cr-md-n, 15 St. Alban’s Street, Piccadilly. With thee I’d break through laws divine and human. And think them cobwebs spread for little man, Which all the bulky herd of nature breaks. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #pallmall

[1793 Edition] Mrs G-frey, 6 Newman Street. ----- Here may the brisk, and able pour, An ocean of their liquid store. This lady may be about thirty, rather plump, she has however, every requisite to make an agreeable bed-fellow, every nerve during the preludes to enjoyment, seem trembling alive to all the refined sensations, and every part about the frame is blessed with that corresponding aptness that cannot fail of producing the most desirable effects, neither has the too frequent use of the most bewitching spot rendered it the least callous to the joys of love; she still feels all that torrent of rapture, the mutual dissolution of two souls in liquid bliss can possibly afford; meets the coming moment with uncommon ecstasy, and asks the speedy return. She is very fond of black, as she pretends to be a widow; her price is one pound one tho' ten shillings and six-pence will do. ----- Images: A young widow – Charles Antoine Coypel (1724), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3] – William Hogarth (1731), The Widow's Tale – John Raphael Smith (1789)

[1793 Edition] Mrs G-frey, 6 Newman Street. Here may the brisk, and able pour, An ocean of their liquid store. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #widows

[1790 Edition] Miss Wh-tt, 18 Berwick Street. ----- Observe the rapture-giving squeeze, The glowing cheek, the sparkling eye, The fault'ring voice, the trembling knees, That speak in silent words—I die. This beautiful daughter of Venus by Apollo, is supposed to be the natural daughter of a noble lord, late in administration, who has had too many offerings of this kind to shew any kindness or affection to any. During her state of childhood, she received a very good education, and her voice, from being improved, is become exceedingly melodious and pleasing; she is genteely formed, fine blue eyes, with dark brown hair, pretty pouting lips, a good set of teeth, and a breath, Sweet as Arabian gales that ope the infant day. She is about eighteen, speaks the French language, which induces most of those foreigners of distinction to pay their court to this lady; she takes a singular pleasure in endeavouring to oblige her visiters by singing, and in general succeeds; she visits the side boxes very frequently, which puts it in her power to oblige the admirers of her voice which most of the modern songs. She is good-natured, affable, and kind, and in bed a very comfortable partner; in this situation she employs her tongue and voice in another manner, full as satisfactory as when it emits the shrillest note; in this pleasing duet she performs her part with admirable skill and dexterity, and in such cases chooses the lowest part; she makes no scruple of getting as much as she possibly can from her foreign visiters, but will not refuse five guineas from a British hand, and that only in the absence of her keeper, from whom she has a very genteel support. ----- Images: Mlle Heinefetter – Pierre Louis Grevedon (1830), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), John Bull's incubus – Charles Jameson Grant (1835)

[1790 Edition] Miss Wh-tt, 18 Berwick Street. Observe the rapture-giving squeeze, The glowing cheek, the sparkling eye, The fault'ring voice, the trembling knees, That speak in silent words—I die. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #costofliving

[1789 Edition] Miss T-wns-nd, 15 Stevens Street, Rathbone Place. ----- Beauty like mine would warm a hermit’s heart, Remove his calmness, and disturb his rest; Expel religion from his sacred grove, And all his passions soften into love. The use of the needle first sired this Lady’s imagination with the use of a certain pin. She passed two years before her public entrance into life at a millener’s, in the town of Boston in America. The discourse between the experienced matrons in that dear initiating school, so warmed her naturally wanton heart, that she fell an easy snare to the first male trap, that fell in her way. Her good fortune soon threw her into the arms of an indulgent keeper, with whom she lived for some time, both before and since they have arrived in this country, the cause of her leaving him we are not acquainted with; suffice it to say, we are certain she refuses no visitors, that will afford a couple of guineas and a bottle. She is tall, and genteel made, now bordering on nineteen, dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes, and very amiable temper and disposition. She is a good dancer, and can sing a chearful song. ----- Images: Personification of Africa – Rosalba Carriera (1720), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), State Street, Boston – William Henry Bartlett (1840s)

[1789 Edition] Miss T-wns-nd, 15 Stevens Street, Rathbone Place. Beauty like mine would warm a hermit’s heart, Remove his calmness, and disturb his rest; Expel religion from his sacred grove, And all his passions soften into love. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #boston

[1788 Edition] Mrs H-w-rd, 14 Moor’s Place, Lambeth ----- Her brows are arch'd, and rather full and thin, To shade the dazzling light that dwells therein. Although Mrs. H--w--rd cannot be more than twenty-six, she has been a true sportswoman, at the cyprian games, for at least twelve years, and has within these late ones contracted such a habit of intimacy with the gin bottle, that unless a person is particularly partial to it, it is almost intolerable, to approach her. At Brighton, this last season, she was the favourite girl at Mrs. John--n's, and had she not, through a foolish fondness, gave the preference to her dear Mr. Sn--m, it is in general believed Mr. W----, the capital Brewer, would have taken her under his own protection; she is rather too short, and too fat, fine dark hair; and eyes and eye-brows that answer very well to her motto; the grove below is well thatched, and ample enough in size to take in any guest; but still she has learnt the knack of contracting it, and a small made gentleman may feel the tender friction. When she elopes from her dear fellow, she is to be met with at Mrs. J--ns--n's, in German-street, and does not turn away any money offered her. ----- Images: Miss Macauley – Rose Emma Drummond (1818), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Near Regents Square, Brighton – William Daniell (1823)

[1788 Edition] Mrs H-w-rd, 14 Moor’s Place, Lambeth. Her brows are arch'd, and rather full and thin, To shade the dazzling light that dwells therein. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #brighton

[1786 Edition] Miss L-c-s, 18 Queen Ann Street East ----- How strangely checquer’d is the scene of life, Thro’ which the ruin’d girl is forc’d to stray; Now buoy’d by hope, now sinking in despair, And blindly seeking the precarious way. Was this lady’s soliloquy from the time she left the East Indies, till she ventur’d herself into life in our metropolis; a near relation of a noble Duke gain’d her heart in the East Indies: in that climate he behav’d to her with the kindness of a married man, but being oblig’d to return to England, she eagerly swallow’d the proposal, thinking she had full and close possession of hid heart, and about a year and a half ago made her appearance in town; in this region of beauty her keeper could not be confin’d, he lov’d variety, and soon left her, untutor’d in the ways of life, unhackney’d in the wiles of intrigue, a deserted forlorn girl, who liv’d upon the effects she brought from the East, ‘till it became absolutely necessary to seek some means for support; ‘tis but very lately she put our means in execution, and is at present so exceedingly timid, she cannot reconcile herself to the company of a stranger, unless introduc’d to her by a friend; her conversation is agreeable, and never disfigur’d by the least tint of vulgarity, she has receiv’d a good education, and is of a good family; in her person she is agreeable without being handsome, with dark hair and eyes, and a very pretty set of teeth, a natural good disposition, which, by misfortune, seem’d a little sour’d; but would some good natur’d cit take her under his care, and reserve her solely for his own use, we may dare venture to affirm she will be true and just to him, and her sweetness of disposition would again return; at present she is quite satisfy’d with one guinea per visit. ----- Images: Beauty about to bathe – Unknown Artist (Chinese) (18th century), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Album of export paintings – Unknown Artist (Guangzhou) (late 18C)

[1786 Edition] Miss L-c-s, 18 Queen Ann Street East. How strangely checquer’d is the scene of life, Thro’ which the ruin’d girl is forc’d to stray; Now buoy’d by hope, now sinking in despair, And blindly seeking the precarious way. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #eastindiacompany

[1783 Edition] Miss Th-mp--n, at Brown’s Hotel, Goodman’s Fields ----- Reclin’d upon a couch the maiden lay, And all her Virgin Charms expos’d to view; I saw them all, unseen, and in her eyes, Read the mad language of untaught desire. She has a Brown Hotel of her own, situated in the middle of Good-Woman’s Fields: it was formerly at the bottom of Maiden Lane, you now pass down Snow Hill, through Hare Court, immediately into Exchange Alley, then it is impossible to mistake the road. You are no sooner entered the premisses, but the reckoning is call’d for, and so pretty a method has she of demanding it, that what you do spend must be done with pleasure, and altho’ she gives full change always, unless you take particular care, you will find your purse quite empty when you depart. Just arrived at the tempting ripe age of twenty-two, with little sparkling blue eyes; her breasts rather full, but not less firm; very fair, and contrasted beautifully by the blue branching veins which surround every part: apparently light brown hair, but so covered with powder, that the colour is doubtful; good teeth, rather short, of a very sprightly and amorous disposition, and a very warm temper, especially when tempered by Bacchus. I forgot to inform you, although she in general gives full charge, she never gives any out of a guinea. ----- Images: L'agreable neglige – Jean-François Janinet (1779), The Four Times of Day: Noon - William Hogarth (1738), Theatre in Great Alie Street Goodman's Fields - William Capon (1801)

About Her: Miss Thompson: ‘Thompson’ is Anglo-Scottish surname meaning son of ‘Thom’, or ‘Tom’ as is more commonly used nowadays. The ‘p’ in Thompson possibly originated from the sound made when moving the mouth from a closed ‘m’ to a slightly open ‘s’. 22 Years Old: Born in 1761, not much is said about Miss Thompson’s past prior to her entry to the list. She is likely to have been on the scene for at least a few years but exactly how long is unknown. She’s described as having sparkling blue eyes, fair complexion and heavily powdered hair. Price: 1 Guinea. Approx: £221

Her Surroundings: Brown’s Hotel, Goodman’s Fields: Like many hotels of the day, Brown’s Hotel around Goodman’s Fields is difficult to locate. In the eighteenth century, Goodman’s Fields was a small pasture fields surround by houses on all sides. To the north was Great Aile Street (see below) also known as Great Ayliff Street, to the east Lemon Street, south was Great Prescott Street, and to the west was Mansel Street. Outside of purely residential buildings, Goodman’s Fields was home to sugar refineries, gun workshops, and several German schools and proto hospitals serving the areas predominantly German and Jewish (Ashkenazi) population. When it comes to hotels and inns there are a few possible areas that could pass as Brown’s Hotel but there are no records that I have found that can definitively say where its exact location was. On Alie Street there is the White Swan pub which has been open since 1825, it is suggested that there was a pub located there before but its name is unknown. There is a ‘Brown Bear’ pub mentioned in an Old Bailey court document from 1764, which is the strongest contender for Brown’s and it is remarkably still in place at 139 Leman (Lemon) Street.

[1783 Edition] Miss Th-mp--n, at Brown’s Hotel, Goodman’s Fields. Reclin’d upon a couch the maiden lay, And all her Virgin Charms expos’d to view; I saw them all, unseen, and in her eyes, Read the mad language of untaught desire. #18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #goodmansfields