This book starts its journey with BookCrossing from Delphi, Greece
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Fully revised Second Edition. With a new Introduction and Bibliography by Dick Collins.

The exploits of Sweeney Todd, 'The Demon Barber of Fleet Street', have been recounted many times in plays, films and musicals, but the origins of the character largely were forgotten for many years. 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, but it was after over 150 years of obscurity that it appeared first in book form in the Wordsworth edition published in 2005.

The one great mystery that has surrounded the book is who the author was - or was it possibly the work of more than one man? In his new introduction to this fully revised second edition, Dick Collins, by means of detailed research of contemporary records, has established finally the identity of the creator of this legendary figure.

So here is the original story of the terrifying owner of that famous London barber-shop, and the secret recipe for Mrs Lovett's delicious pies... "


~~~~~~To the person who found this book:~~~~~~

Welcome to BookCrossing.com, where we are trying to make the whole world a library!

If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home. Drop a few lines on where and how you found this book and what you thought of it. You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, I encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun and free, and your personal information will never be shared or sold.

This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, although I would love you to read and then share it. You can pass it on someone you know or release it once again in the wild, leaving it on a park bench, a phone booth, a hostel lobby...wherever you think it's suitable for the book to continue it's journey. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.

I hope you enjoy the book!

I'm not sure what to say about this book. I think some elements of it were so bad, that at the end it turned out to be a fun read.

Actually I agree with Dick Collins' view on the introduction that parts of the narration feature a very decent writting style but I disagree on his enthusiasm to classify this penny dreadful as a classic and while I found his train of thoughts interesting, I think he took his speculations a bit too far while trying to pin down who the author (or authors) of the story is and where he got his ideas from.

The characters of the book and many of its themes are too cliche or over the top.
Whenever it's not ridiculously melodramatic, it often reads like a theatrical bouffon comedy or something, featuring witty turns of phrase, characters who keep talking to their selves and so on.

I rolled my eyes on the romantic part of the book, I found the macabre part of the story too predictable and over the top while I think that the "detective" part of the story was lacking somehow. The very end came too quickly and left something to be desired on its excecution.

I found the book too unequal in tone and pace too. Of course this wasn't originally published as a whole book, the editor would want the story to last as long as possible, but reading it in one go, it shows its flaws...

All in all, I was curious to see what I'll make of the book, I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it calls for a re-read soon.

This book got itchy feet and is now travelling to Falkirk, Scotland.

And then... Who knows?

Good Luck little book and Don't forget to write your news from time to time!

Arrived yesterday. Thank you very much.