- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd (10 Aug 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840224835
- ISBN-13: 978-1840224832
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 209,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The String of Pearls - the original tale of Sweeney Todd, a classic of British horror - was first published as a weekly serial in 1846-7 by Edward Lloyd, the King of the Penny Dreadfuls. One of the earliest detective stories, it became an important source for Bram Stoker's Dracula. After 157 years of obscurity, it appears here for the first time in book form. This edition is no longer available, and has been replaced by 9781840226324
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First Sentence
BEFORE FLEET STREET HAD REACHED its present importance, and when George the Third was young, and the two figures who used to strike the chimes at old St Dunstan's church were in all their glory -being a great impediment to errand-boys on their progress, and a matter of gaping curiosity to country people - there stood close to the sacred edifice a small barber's shop, which was kept by a man of the name of Sweeney Todd.' Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
BEFORE FLEET STREET HAD REACHED its present importance, and when George the Third was young, and the two figures who used to strike the chimes at old St Dunstan's church were in all their glory -being a great impediment to errand-boys on their progress, and a matter of gaping curiosity to country people - there stood close to the sacred edifice a small barber's shop, which was kept by a man of the name of Sweeney Todd.' Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At last someone has brought out a new edition of The String of Pearls! Everybody knows who Sweeney Todd was, but up to now the book itself has been something that even people like me, with a University library at my disposal, could only read about. Now everyone can read it. And what a read! Even though (OF COURSE) I knew the end of the story from long ago, I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. And there are some genuine (if rather cruel) laughs in it. If Matthew Lewis had been a Dickens fan, or if Ann Radcliffe had had a sense of fun, they would have written this. It is a first-rate horror story and -- like the excellent introduction says -- of first rate importance in the history of horror. No-one should give this book a miss. It's delicious!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although the style is of its time, it is well written and still very readable. The short introduction is fascinating and reveals the authors as copyright cowboys often just one step ahead of the police (with works such as "Nickelas Nickelberry"). The plot is patchy and has a lot of false leads, probably resulting from more than one author, and from padding required to fill each magazine episode. Several characters seem to be important, but then fade out of the story, and the significance of the pearls to the plot is variable. Overall, though, Todd keeps the continuity, and holds the reader hooked.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is hard to imagine these days how a penny dreadful story must have gripped the nation in the mid-nineteenth century. When 'The String of Pearls' was being written none of the writers knew that they were going to make literary history. 157 years after it was last published it is now back in print, giving the true tale of Sweeney Todd.
This story has become so famous today that it has entered our folklore. I have even seen a picture of where Sweeny Todd's barber shop was - not bad for a fictional character.
This book will enthrall you with its story as it did the reading public who first saw it. We all know the basic story of Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett's pie shop, but reading this book you will find that there is so much more to it. After all this is sensation fiction at its best, and Sweeney Todd is just one of the characters that inhabits its pages in this fast-paced and frenetic tale. There is nothing to dislike about this book, except possibly in the actual story being perhaps a bit too short.
If you love a good read you can't go wrong by buying this book and finding out the true, original, and best telling of Sweeney Todd and those infamous pies.
This story has become so famous today that it has entered our folklore. I have even seen a picture of where Sweeny Todd's barber shop was - not bad for a fictional character.
This book will enthrall you with its story as it did the reading public who first saw it. We all know the basic story of Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett's pie shop, but reading this book you will find that there is so much more to it. After all this is sensation fiction at its best, and Sweeney Todd is just one of the characters that inhabits its pages in this fast-paced and frenetic tale. There is nothing to dislike about this book, except possibly in the actual story being perhaps a bit too short.
If you love a good read you can't go wrong by buying this book and finding out the true, original, and best telling of Sweeney Todd and those infamous pies.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Book
Its a good book but you spend a lot of time jumping to the notes at the back.
Published on 17 Sep 2009 by Amy Stannard-Powell
The Original Sweeney Todd
Most will know something of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This book introduces the story of Sweeney Todd, as first read in the mid-19th Century. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2009 by DB
The Perfect Shave
The original and wonderfull story as it was meant to be. Forget the DVD's with Ray Winston and Johnny Depp, read this instead and revell at the mastery of characters, suspense and... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2009 by M. Walton
The original story of Sweeney Todd
I bought this book after watching the Johnny Depp film and this book was mentioned in the extra's. Still reading it at the moment and im loving it! Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Mr. K. R. Richards
Makes your skin crawl
Like many other people I'd vaguely heard about Sweeny Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Along with a vague idea of the plot that name and nickname was more or less the sum of... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2008 by dwaas76
Couldn't Put It Down
A very satisfying story with a light storyline over the top and a Deep mystery running through the whole book. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2007 by Karen Perks
Better than Dracula
I absolutely loved this book. I'd vaguely heard of it before, but never really hoped to read it, and now it's in print for £1.50!!. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2005
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