Listening to LibriVox recordings of Evelina and Cecilia. Set in the late 18c. it makes me wonder how the sums referred to map to the present time. Measuring Worth suggests that a 1000 pounds at the time would, depending on the measure, have a value from 80K to 800K pounds now. Probably, given the context, more like 80K, but to consider that someone might lose that gambling in one night. Ugh. Clearly, if you want to revenge yourself on the rich, you should find a means of inciting them to gamble. It is a luxury to have stories read to one. Some of the readers are difficult to listen to, but some are delightful, so overall the mix is good: the contrast merely adds interest. Well, alright, some are actually unintelligible, mostly for their ill pacing. Accents I can deal with, but to stagger through the words with no sense makes it difficult to understand.