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H G Wells "the Invisible Man"

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Bert45 | 22:30 Fri 26th Oct 2018 | Arts & Literature
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I've just read "The Invisible Man" by H G Wells. My book was printed in 1940 by Collins. A few words puzzled me. Since it was written in or about 1897 this is no surprise. In chapter 7 Wells writes: " ... some gay young fellows resplendent in black ready-made jackets and pique paper ties, for it was Whit-Monday, joined the group with confused interrogations."
Can anybody explain what a pique paper tie is or was, and what would be the connection with Whit Monday? Would a ready-made jacket be worthy of comment at the time? Thanks
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The Literary Touchstone edition of the book, published in 2006 by Prestwick Hose, includes a useful glossary: https://tinyurl.com/ych6m82o
00:40 Sat 27th Oct 2018
Pique

tightly woven fabric with raised cords.

Which would likely have been starched, so could have looked like paper - unless of course it actually was paper.

Whit was quite commonly associated with wearing one's best and often there were 'walks'.
I doubt a chap of any substance would wear a ready made jacket in 1897.
Wells is probably suggesting they were hoi poloi.
Would a ready-made jacket be worthy of comment at the time? Thanks

Probably, because I should imagine that in the day's of when the book was written I should imagine that most clothes were made to measure.
Yes, sorry I totally missed the relevance of ready-made - they obviously weren't wealthy young coves.
The Literary Touchstone edition of the book, published in 2006 by Prestwick Hose, includes a useful glossary:
https://tinyurl.com/ych6m82o
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Buenchico's link is very useful. There is at least one misprint -- chapter X "an inclined strong", which is "an inclined string" in my edition. Maybe string was stronger in those days☺. The explanation of Röntgen vibrations is wrong -- the writer evidently found that a 'Röntgen' is an old unit of radiation, not realising that Wells was referring to X-rays.

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