Updale, Eleanor. Montmorency; thief, liar, gentleman.UPDALE, Eleanor. Montmorency; thief, liar, gentleman. Scholastic. 240p. c2004. 0-439-58035-8. $16.95. JS Badly injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. while running away from the police, a thief in Victorian London is saved by a doctor interested in trying out new surgical techniques on him. Dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. "Montmorency," the name on the tool bag he was clutching when caught, the recovered thief survives the treatment, goes off to prison and ponders his life of crime--he's determined to do it better next time. Dragged about to scientific meetings to display the surgeon's handiwork, Montmorency picks up useful information about London's brand-new sewerage sewerage, system for the removal and disposal of chiefly liquid wastes and of rainwater, which are collectively called sewage. The average person in the industrialized world produces between 60 and 140 gallons of sewage per day. system and realizes that these underground tunnels offer a thief a new way of getting away unseen. On his release from prison, he takes advantage of the sewer system Noun 1. sewer system - facility consisting of a system of sewers for carrying off liquid and solid sewage sewage system, sewage works facility, installation - a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry; "the to steal much more successfully, and establishes a double life for himself as a wealthy gentleman and his working class servant while police search in vain for a daring burglar. A posh new friend gets an inkling in·kling n. 1. A slight hint or indication. 2. A slight understanding or vague idea or notion. [Probably alteration of Middle English (a) ningkiling, of his real identity, and offers him a chance to use his skills in breaking and entering breaking and entering v., n. entering a residence or other enclosed property through the slightest amount of force (even pushing open a door), without authorization. If there is intent to commit a crime, this is burglary. as a spy, a new thrill for this essentially good-hearted rogue. This debut novel is rather old-fashioned. in keeping with its time period. It's told in the third person, which makes it a little less involving than it might be if told in the first person, but the details of a thief's life and Montmorency's struggle to maintain his two identities will keep readers turning the pages of this clever and often suspenseful historical novel. A sequel is due in 2005. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT |
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