You may remember that a while ago I did a post sharing a slew of quotes and allusions to Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit, which seemed to be popping up in every other book I read. Since then they’ve continued to pop at a steady rate. I’m ready to believe that Mrs. Sairey Gamp and her fabled friend Mrs. Harris are a pair of the most fondly-regarded and oft-quoted characters in English literature. Running a search of the word “Gampish” on Google Books reveals that in olden times it was practically an informal adjective, usually applied to an umbrella! Here’s a further sampling of Gampish appearances in a variety of books:
“Toodle-oodle-oo!” said Mr. Coleman. “Here’s Sairey Gamp.” ~ Agatha Christie, Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
On his rare visits to the farm it seemed to him there was always some drab dejected female in the kitchen or living room or on the porch—a woman with broken teeth and comic shoes and tragic eyes—drinking great draughts of coffee and telling her woes to Selina—Sairey Gampish ladies smelling unpleasantly of peppermint and perspiration and poverty. ~ Edna Ferber, So Big (1924)
“She didn’t know I was there, of course. I just stood a bit and looked at her. Then, when I heard Mrs. Gamp stumping up the stairs again, I slipped away.” ~ Agatha Christie, Sad Cypress (1940)
Victoria longed to say, “He’s brother to Mrs. Harris,” but refrained. ~ Agatha Christie, They Came to Bagdad (1951)
I uncorked the bottle of King Minos, sec, and, with a silent blessing on Frances, who had insisted on my taking it, took a swig that would have done credit to Mrs. Gamp and her teapot. ~ Mary Stewart, The Moonspinners (1962)
“I now propose a toast, as my ‘friend and pardner, Sairy Gamp’ says. Fun forever, and no grubbing!” cried Jo, rising, glass in hand, as the lemonade went round. ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868)
That last, of course, was one of those Dickensian references in Alcott that mystified me throughout my childhood reading, only to become clear when I finally made the acquaintance of Mrs. Gamp herself—whom, once met, never forgotten. Indeed, I often find myself quoting one of Mrs. Gamp’s lines as rendered in the splendid 1994 miniseries adaptation “when I am so dispoged” (though I can never come close to Elizabeth Spriggs’ rendering of Mrs. Gamp’s inimitable accent).
Hannah Scheele says
I love Mrs Gamp–I also used to wonder what that reference to her was in Little Women. 😀
I love her line," Gamp's my name, and Gamp's my nature."
Seriously, what does that even mean? 😛
BTW, I read your story War Memorial. It was really good. And I don't say something's good unless I mean it. 😀
Elisabeth Grace Foley says
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it.
I'm not quite sure if Mrs. Gamp herself knew what she meant by that line. 🙂