Editing Portsmouth (section)

== Literature ==
[[File:Statue of Charles Dickens in Guildhall Square - geograph.org.uk - 3871763.jpg|thumb|This statue to [[Charles Dickens]] in Portsmouth is one of only three statues to the historic writer in the world. Dickens wrote in his will that he did not want such statues built in his honour.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}]]
Portsmouth is the hometown of Fanny Price, the main character of [[Jane Austen]]'s novel ''[[Mansfield Park]]'', and most of its closing chapters are set there.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wiltshire |first1=John |title=Exploring Mansfield Park in the footsteps of Fanny Price |url=http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number28/wiltshire.pdf |publisher=jasna |access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> Nicholas and Smike, the main protagonists of [[Charles Dickens]]' novel ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby]]'', make their way to Portsmouth and become involved with a theatrical troupe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.welcometoportsmouth.co.uk/charles_dickens.html |title=Dickens' novel influences on Portsmouth |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |date=22 July 1904 |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> Portsmouth is most often the port from which Captain Jack Aubrey's ships sail in [[Patrick O'Brian]]'s seafaring historical [[Aubrey-Maturin series]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jack Aubrey's England tour |url=http://www.brianlavery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/POB-complete2.pdf |publisher=Brian Lavery |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817073323/http://www.brianlavery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/POB-complete2.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Portsmouth is the main setting of [[Jonathan Meades]]'s 1993 novel ''Pompey''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Matthew |title=Pompey by Jonathan Meades: Book review – a startlingly filthy read |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/pompey-by-jonathan-meades-book-review-a-startlingly-filthy-read-that-shows-meades-on-top-form-8952758.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=30 July 2016 |date=20 November 2013}}</ref> Since the novel was published, Meades has presented a TV programme documenting Victorian architecture in Portsmouth Dockyard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooke |first1=Rachel |title=Jonathan Meades: 'I find everything fascinating and that is a gift' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/nov/10/jonathan-meades-architecture-television-fiction |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 July 2016 |date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

Victorian novelist and historian [[Sir Walter Besant]] documented his 1840s childhood in ''By Celia's Arbour: A Tale of Portsmouth Town'', precisely describing the town before its defensive walls were removed.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Literary World, Volume 17 |date=1878 |page=120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gjYZAAAAYAAJ&q=By+Celia%27s+Arbour:+A+Tale+of+Portsmouth+Town+wall |access-date=30 July 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Southsea (as Port Burdock) features in ''[[The History of Mr Polly]]'' by [[H. G. Wells]], who describes it as "one of the three townships that are grouped around the Port Burdock naval dockyards".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/mar/13/hg-wells-kipps-classics-review |title=Kipps by HG Wells – review |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 July 2016 |last1=Cummins |first1=Anthony |date=13 March 2011}}</ref> The resort is also the setting of the [[graphic novel]] ''[[The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch]]'' by [[high fantasy]] author [[Neil Gaiman]], who grew up in Portsmouth. A Southsea street was renamed The Ocean at the End of the Lane by the city council in honour of Gaiman's [[The Ocean at the End of the Lane|novel of the same name]].<ref name=Flood>{{cite web |last1=Flood |first1=Alison |title=Neil Gaiman novel inspires Portsmouth street name |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jun/21/neil-gaiman-portsmouth-street-ocean |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 July 2016 |date=21 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Hanging Out with the Dream King': An Interview with Neil Gaiman |url=http://www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2015/02/16/hanging-out-with-the-dream-king-an-interview-with-neil-gaiman/ |date=16 February 2015 |work=Star & Crescent |access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

Crime novels set in Portsmouth and the surrounding area include [[Graham Hurley]]'s D.I.{{nbsp}}Faraday/D.C.{{nbsp}}Winter novels<ref name="graham">{{cite web |url=http://www.grahamhurley.co.uk/books/one%20under.htm |title=Other novels in Portsmouth culture |publisher=Graham Hurley Publishing |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> and [[C. J. Sansom]]'s Tudor crime novel, ''Heartstone''; the latter refers to the warship ''Mary Rose'' and describes Tudor life in the town.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/heartstone-by-c-j-sansom-2078398.html |title=Heartsone, by C.&nbsp;J Sansom |work=The Independent |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> ''Portsmouth Fairy Tales for Grown Ups'', a collection of short stories, was published in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portsmouth Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups |url=http://www.lovesouthsea.co.uk/shop/portsmouth-fairy-tales-for-grown-ups |website=Love Southsea |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820083633/http://www.lovesouthsea.co.uk/shop/portsmouth-fairy-tales-for-grown-ups |archive-date=20 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Portsmouth Fairy Tales for Grown Ups information |url=http://www.william-sutton.co.uk/books/portsmouth-fairy-tales-for-grown-ups/ |publisher=William Sutton |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> The collection, set around Portsmouth, includes stories by crime novelists William Sutton and Diana Bretherick.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://angryrobotbooks.com/2013/12/william-sutton-a-shilling-shocker-short-story/ |title=William Sutton – A Shilling Shocker Short Story |publisher=Angry Robot Books |access-date=5 February 2016 |archive-date=5 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205180044/http://angryrobotbooks.com/2013/12/william-sutton-a-shilling-shocker-short-story/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lbabooks.com/author/diana-bretherick/ |title=Diana Bretherick, LBA Literary Agents |publisher=LBA Literary Agents |access-date=5 February 2016 |archive-date=5 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205175457/http://www.lbabooks.com/author/diana-bretherick/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>