An introduction - Mrs Gamp

Here's Mrs Gamp in her introduction.

She was a fat old woman, this Mrs Gamp, with a husky voice and a moist eye which she had a remarkable power of turning up and only showing the white of it. Having very little neck, it cost her some trouble to look over herself, if one may say so, at those to whom she talked.... The face of Mrs Gamp - the nose in particular - was somewhat red and swollen, and it was difficult to enjoy her society without becoming concious of a smell of spirits.


Martin Chuzzlewit

Mrs Gamp

In many places in his novels, Dickens suggests that the consumption of beer, wine or spirits is an inseparable part of the character he is describing. Mrs Gamp has more than her fair share of quotes in this book and, no doubt, more than her fair share of gin.

'Tell Mrs Gamp to come upstairs,' said Mould. 'Now Mrs Gamp, what's your news?'
The lady in question was by this time in the doorway, curtseying to Mrs Mould. At the same moment a peculiar fragrance was borne upon the breeze, as if a passing fairy had hiccoughed, and had previously been to a wine vault.


Martin Chuzzlewit.