Bidwell's Travels, from Wall Street to London Prison. English-only reading by default; switch among English, Chinese, and Spanish, or compare languages side by side.
This chapter develops the memoir’s account of Chapter XXXIX. THE DAYS O’ SUMMER MERRILY SPENT IN THE LAND OF THE HEATHER., connecting personal narrative with the financial, legal, and prison-world setting of the period. The chapter’s opening perspective is: In the cell next to mine was a prison genius named Heep, who was one of the most singular characters I ever met. As I shall have occasion to speak of him frequently, I may as well give here a sketch of his life as related to me by himself.
This chapter is for readers following Bidwell’s memoir chapter by chapter, especially the section titled “Chapter XXXIX. THE DAYS O' SUMMER MERRILY SPENT IN THE LAND OF THE HEATHER..” It is most useful for readers interested in financial crime history, nineteenth-century banking culture, criminal justice, prison memoir, and the social setting of the period.
Read “Chapter XXXIX. THE DAYS O' SUMMER MERRILY SPENT IN THE LAND OF THE HEATHER.” as a historical memoir rather than guidance. The banking procedures, legal assumptions, public reputation, social judgments, travel conditions, and prison practices described belong to Bidwell’s nineteenth-century setting and may not match modern institutions.