The Global Archive For Devotees of Doorsteps: Cult Guide

Dir: Henry Edwards

In the East London tenements lives one Alexandra Vickers, better known as "Viccy." She is rough-tongued, quick-tempered, and generous as far as her slender means allow. Her parents died when the girl was very young and left her to shift for herself. Later she takes up her abode with Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Smith and their nephew, Albert Grummett. In the month of August the family decides to go to the hop fields and earn their living picking the sticky vegetable from which is made the national beverage, beer. About this time in America a wealthy contractor dies and leaves his immense fortune to Victoria Alexandra Vickers, the only daughter of his brother. A search is made for the girl and she is finally located in the hop fields. She is placed under the care of a Mrs. Carrington, to become polished. After "Viccy" leaves, Grummett, with five hundred pounds given him by the girl, sets himself up in business and is soon prosperous. Mrs. Carrington's son asks "Viccy" to marry him, as he needs money to pay his debts, and the girl accepts him. She later sees Grummett, however, and after discovering that Carrington wants only her money she goes back to Grummett, and East returns to East.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The City of Beautiful Nonsense perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A poor author feigns marriage to please his dying father.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A Cockney poses as his drowned double, who is saved and poses as a chauffeur.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Kinsman perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A mean squire's novelist son becomes a village benefactor.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A woman disapproves of her stepson's love for a girl who goes mad when her drunken father dies in a landslide.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Temporary Vagabond perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A shepherdess becomes an opera star. A shepherd becomes a sculptor.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A Russian's secret wife marries her cousin to give her baby a name.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Aylwin perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A girl presumed drowned escapes from a lighthouse keeper to find her husband insane and framed for murder.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A rescued man takes the place of a convicted heir, who later blackmails him.

Dir: Henry Edwards

A coffee stall keeper's wife dreams he goes blind and dies in a fire.