This book was written over a century ago. The descriptions of the shoreline of Kent all in non-sophisticated but very distinctive English are music to ears and imagination. To this add a great depiction of England's not-so-underground society -- at the time... Great book. (Goodreads)

George Payne Rainsford James (9 August 1799 9 June 1860), was an English novelist and historical writer, the son of a physician in London. He was for many years British Consul at various places in the United States and on the Continent. He held the honorary office of British Historiographer Royal during the last years of William IV's reign. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)