Debtors' prisons are infamous but very little has been written about the records of those confined within them in London or elsewhere in the country. Even less has been written about the trials of those who were often incarcerated following misfortune or mismanagement rather than criminal intent. That is why Paul Blake's handbook will be so useful for researchers who want to find out about forebears who may have been caught up in the insolvency system. In a series of information-filled chapters he covers the historical background to the handling of debt and debtors, and bankruptcy and bankrupts. In addition he describes the courts and procedures faced by both creditors and debtors, and the prisons where so many debtors were confined. Throughout the book details are given of the records that researchers can turn to in order to explore the subject for themselves. Many are held at The National Archives, but others are to be found at local record offices around the country. Paul Blake's book will be appreciated by local, social and family historians, as well as those with an interest in debtor crime and punishment, and bankrupts in general.

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It was a hot afternoon in Agust, The lavotory of Eastcabe School jyss tho scene of unwonted up oaz, Emerton, a tall, hmllsomo boy, vr- ts e ngaged in fastening n vliita lccktic. Goodman, doso by hirn, striving i pair of vary red hnds a clc dincsa 1 jvlriclr, as a rule, v a a qu ite unknown to them. Tom R. ussoll, a amall, I bright - looking lad, having jush, rrashed himself carefully, was - en-v - - denvmrin - t. o make his shoes ahina like patent leather which they certainly wew not, quite forgetting thnt the operation o u l r l ueccsitato mother npplication of the soap md water. At last all thc rubbing was over, and the three boys commeuced the importnnt operntion of bmslliny t, hcir hair. Goodman found tflat his persisted iu stnndiug rlp like o, mop, Emerton therel pon nuggesting to him that he should stand on his llcnd in order to mako il lie do vri. Goodman did not take Emertong chaff iin good part, for he was painfully conscious t, hat ho was about ns ungainly n boy as could msll be imagined. He had an unpleasant habit of eontiuually gramirig out of his clothes his collars were always rt eize too emall, and nearly choked him, making his face redder than it vas even by nature his gloves were never fastened, aud not infrequently Jisd FL big slit down the back. Xom then, cried Emertou, hurry up W e shall havo to start in two rni lutcs, and you fcllo vs are not half ready. Wait rt second cried Goodmm, lryi ig h ard to push his ha id illto his la olldcr glovo, and fearing every lno ncnt to hear the ominous pop which would demonstrnto thnt his efforts had bccu only too successhl. Xow then, you Tom, d l e dEm erton, go and get iny hat, . Tom obcycd. I t seclned to be his funcfiorl toobey, md ha aplcacd quita resigned tc it. What was ilo cnuso of thcsc unusual ablutions in the middle of the dny P IIow Ivne it that these boys, who ge rcrnlly a t four oclock in the aftcrnoo l m crc Jnoro or less niuddy, should find themselves bcforo a looking-glass, doing all t h y could to mako ihemsclvos presentable This was tho sccrct. It was tho first afternoon on which Nr. Wigginss dnncingclaas was ta bo hold. Hitherto thc boys lm gromlup ignorelt of thilt elegant art, but air. Wiggins hnd rccently determind t, lint the villago of fi stcote dloulil lnck no longcr a l micesor of thnt nccomplishment which imparts ease to the movements, nccording to the wthority of Pop. So oncc a meek he made s descc lt from n neighbourii g county town, and taughl tho youths and maidens of tho village vhnt hc knew of deportment n idd ancing, holding a scpnnte clnss for tho Eutcoto School. Only fout of tho boys wero per nittcd to attend, -the three vohavo alrcndy nnmcd, and Bicknrrls. Bi nrds was n day-boy, and his absence from the larntory is tlerefom accounted for. TIe Jvns to join the others nt the smalI room hired by Mr. Wigins bohind the stntioncrs shop his sistcr, Tlorenco Ricknrds, vho . a s a gmat friend of Cissie Bussell, Toms sister, was also to bo a pupil. Toln and Cissie, however, did not go togetl1c. r Cissie arrived in the charge of llcr mother, the rife of tho headmaster of Etistcote, Dr...