Newtown, New South Wales by the crime writer Peter Corris. One of the first pieces of fiction to be published in colonial Sydney was "The Legend of Newtown" by future member of parliament D.H. Deneihy, published in the Sydney "Sentinel" on 5 November 1845 when the author was 17. It described Newtown as "a favourite place ... to snatch a mouthful of fresh air, a view of the ruralities of the place". The famous Newtown recluse and eccentric Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1826-1886) is said by some sources to have inspired the character of Miss Havisham in Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations". Donnithorne lived in
Miss Pross Charles Darnay is arrested in Paris as an aristocrat and an emigrant. When Madame Therese Defarge comes to the home where they are staying in Paris to try to induce Lucie to speak against the new French Republic (a criminal act), Miss Pross tries to prevent her. In the fight that ensues, Madame Defarge's pistol goes off, killing herself. Miss Pross leaves Madame Defarge's body there and escapes with Jerry Cruncher, but the psychological shock and the sound of the gun cause her to go deaf. Miss Pross Miss Pross is a character in Charles Dickens' novel, "A Tale of