[Tealeaf]

Well, enjoy the read, Eric. I would not normally post my preferred reading matter on this site - in fact, this is the first time I have done so - had it not been for a peculiar meeting about 10 days ago. So here is the tale.

I was at a party over the other side of London - the usual stuff - canapés, Pinot Grigio, the occasional F-word just to shock - typically, very middle-class southern liberal, with a fair sprinkling of academia in there. I was just about to swap telephone numbers with this very tasty, divorced, tall and very curvy Polish wench, when I was interrupted by this American character more under the influence of alcohol than I was.

The reason for the interruption was someone had mentioned that I was from Accy and he wanted to know if that had any connection with 'Old Accrington in Lanca-Shire'.

'Aye', I replied, almost choking on my green olive 'Why do you ask....you a Stanley fan?'

Now I must admit that at this point I was somewhat distracted my female companion putting her hand where she should not have; However, this gentleman then proceeded to tell me that although he had been involved in verifying manuscript extracts which may or may not (and I can't remember the exact story) have originated from Mary Shelley's papers deposited at the Bodlian in Oxford.

From what I recall - and I do wish I had had less to drink - these manuscripts amounted to the best part of two missing chapters of Shelley's 'The Modern Prometheus' - better known, of course, as 'Frankenstein'. Now, while it is many years since I read that book - I am much more familiar with Boris Karloff or the Hammer interpretation - I do know that it can be readily interpreted as an allegory to the evils of industrialisation.

What then, were these chapters supposedly about? Well, about two thirds of the way through the published book, Frankenstein - followed closely by his monster - arrives in England and then proceeds to Matlock, in Derbyshire. That stay, in the original text involves little mention and neither does the stay in the Lakes. But these extracts, - according to my confidant, amounting to some 4000 words - describe Frankenstein’s stay in Old Accrington.

I would normally have had a good laugh over this, but then by friend pulled out of his pocket a photocopied A4 sheet...just about 500 words, in great, flowing script, and sure enough, there was 'Old Accy' in there.