Introduction : "the most hateful of professions?"
1. Canada and Oxford (1848-1873)
2. Jamaica (1873-1876)
3. Setting out the stall (1876-1880)
4. "A pedlar crying stuff" : selling the wares (1880-1889)
5. The stock in trade : writing science
6. The stock in trade : light fiction
7. The prosperous tradesman (1890-1895)
8. Dealing with the "dissenting grocer"
9. Retailing The woman who did
10. Last orders (1896-1899)
Conclusion : "we of the proletariat..."