Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS v
3. ILLUSTRATIONS vii
4. FOREWORD xi
5. INTRODUCTION xv
6. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS xxi
7. CHAPTER 1 PREFACE: SHARPE FAMILY HISTORY 1
8. CHAPTER 2 1830 A YOUNG MAN TAKES STOCK OF HIMSELF AND CONSIDERS HIS PROSPECTS 9
9. CHAPTER 3 1840 MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN; LIFE IN THE CITY; WAYWARD RELATIVES; A MOVE TO THE COUNTRY CONTEMPLATED 27
10. CHAPTER 4 1841 A MARRIAGE; A TRIP TO PORTUGAL; THE MOVE TO HAMPSTEAD 52
11. CHAPTER 5 1842 SETTLING IN AT HAMPSTEAD; SIR THOMAS MARYON WILSON; WAR IN PORTUGAL CAUSES BUSINESS PROBLEMS; THE HAMPSTEAD NATIONAL SCHOOL 67
12. CHAPTER 6 1843 A DEATH AND A BIRTH IN THE FAMILY 123
13. CHAPTER 7 1844 SCHOOLS AND TEACHER TRAINING; EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE LIBRARY; A NEW READING ROOM FOR YOUNG MEN; A CRICKET CLUB; THE DEATH OF A FRIEND; A BANK ROBBERY; SIR THOMAS PLANS TO BUILD NEXT TO THE HEATH 177
14. CHAPTER 8 1845 THE OPENING OF THE NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE; SIR THOMAS STARTS BUILDING HIS VIADUCT ON THE HEATH; THE READING ROOMS’ ANNIVERSARY PARTY AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 237
15. CHAPTER 9 1846 PERSONAL LOSS, FAMILY ILLNESS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS 265
16. CHAPTER 10 1847 THE HAMPSTEAD CONVERSAZIONE; EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION; THE RESOLUTION OF FINANCIAL PROBLEMS 307
17. CHAPTER 11 POSTSCRIPT 329
18. BIBLIOGRAPHY 343
19. INDEX 350