Brooks of Sheffield

In Charles Dicken's "David Copperfield", Mr. Murdstone refers to David as "Brooks of Sheffield." This is a play on words using the verb form of "Brook" meaning "to endure" and David's home town, Sheffield. Mr. Murdstone is interested in David's mother, but sees him as something to be endured, or put up with.

I took the
opportunity of asking if she was at all acquainted with Mr. Brooks of Sheffield , but she answered No, only she supposed he must be a
manufacturer in the knife and fork way.

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