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1 " He would say you were a good Christian lad. The Slasher cannot move without ale, cannot wake without it, and most certainly cannot go a bout without it. There will be a penny change that you shall keep for going. "
― Mick Kitson , Featherweight
2 " He stood six feet four inches and his chest was broad and round as an oak tun, his shoulders like the great limbs of an old tree. "
3 " You tell em this, fine lad. I aint done. And I aint finished and that Irish pig will know he’s met the Slasher soon enough. And tell his lordship he might as well piss on his fifty pound. "
4 " Hadn’t he been to London, and once fought for a prize on the frozen River Thames before a crowd of lords and ladies and fine gentlemen on a bed of coal ash as snow tumbled? He fought a Jew called Mendoza and their blood froze pink as a dog rose on the ice. "
5 " Now, ladies, do not squirm and do not squeal when these man mountains meet – for there will be blood, there will be cuts and wounds and bruising, but do not forget the nobility of this art of pugilism. "
6 " He said women who fought were the roughest old gorgers and whores an all. "
7 " I’ll learn you fisty and then we’ll go and get em. A wench is only safe in this life if she takes her revenge and everybody knows it. "
8 " Janey, for all her foul mouth and burn-scarred hands, was a lady as far as Bill was concerned and she was devoted to Annie, who she still coached and trained in the backyard on summer evenings. "
9 " Imagine, Annie . . . learning is the gateway to a new life in our Lord Jesus. That is why all poor children must come and hear the Word and learn to read it. "
10 " And Jem knew of Bill Perry from his days in the livery yard at Tipton Port before he came to the Bilston yard. And he knew what was said of him now. Paddy said he was old and broken with drink but, ‘I still wouldn’t put meself on his wrong side if I didn’t need to. Bill Perry was the best of all the old pugilists. But I hear he is a sorry sight these days. "
11 " Looking at his face, I got the memory of him. He was the cheeky bleeder at the Tipton livery who called me a gypo when I first come to the port with Bill and the Gaffer. "
12 " said, ‘I’m a gypo, Jem. We can all fight – and tek money off ya. "
13 " Where are the hordes of poor ignorant wretches my money is being used to better? "
14 " Bill had him by the throat for that, and Paddy spluttered that whatever I wore would be respectable and he would guarantee everything was proper. "
15 " And I said, ‘So have you, Miss Esther. Your mammy died, mine just sold us. "
16 " Ask yourself: do you have their speed? Their light-footed bravado? Their honed and refined martial instinct? . . . Ask yourself . . . "
17 " Janey had told me this was how Romis fought, slow and circling and not making any move for ages. They called it ‘charming’ and they were looking to mesmerise you like they did with snakes in India. "
18 " Rich fine people know they can just touch yer when they want, because, to him, me and Jem were just like horses or dogs. And the three of them chuckled so at their fancy saying, though I had not one clue what they were on about. "
19 " He is a monstrous man, Father. His land and riches are all wrenched from the poor who labour in his infernal mines . . . It is the least he owes them to educate their children. "
20 " He is a very interesting fellow, Judith, and a first-rate mathematician. He is to be company for me, my dear girl. I do sometimes feel the need for a little communion with gentlemen, living as I do in the midst of ladies. "
