Looking at books

... and he glanced at the backs of the books, with an awakened curiosity that went below the binding. No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on the shelf, like one who cannot.

Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend

I was really surprised to see the emphasis on reading and books in the early chapters of Our Mutual Friend. The way some people yearn after reading, like Mr. Boffin and Lizzie, mades me realize afresh what a blessing it is to have such a literate population. Even if much of it rarely cracks a book, they don't have to have someone else read them street signs.