In August 1927, the Westminster Gazette newspaper created the promotional character Lobby Lud. Reporters would assume the identity of “Lobby Lud” and travel to seaside resorts, doing their best to be spotted by tourists who would then be rewarded with a cash prize for spotting the right man. Greene modelled the Messenger’s Kolley Kibber promotion after the real-life Lobby Lud. Charles Hale is in Brighton as the Messenger’s Kolley Kibber man.
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Kolley Kibber Term Timeline in Brighton Rock
The timeline below shows where the term Kolley Kibber appears in Brighton Rock. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part I, Chapter 2
...him instantly, however, and tells him that she’s had an exciting day. She found a Kolley Kibber card under the cloth. She didn’t say anything to the man who left it, though,...
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Part I, Chapter 3
...on Black Boy, and then Clarence asks her if she’s heard what happened to the Kolley Kibber man, how he was found dead recently.
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...his heart gave out. The Messenger paid the man who found the body the grand Kolley Kibber prize of 10 guineas. Ida grabs the paper and sees a picture of Hale, thinking...
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...only gave Hale’s death a few column inches and that they’ve already appointed a new Kolley Kibber man. She is struck by the sensation that Hale is somehow trying to reach out...
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Part II, Chapter 1
Rose apologizes for being late. Pinkie asks her if she ever got her Kolley Kibber money and if anyone has come around to question her about it. Rose says she...
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Part III, Chapter 1
...table for her and Phil Corkery. She asks around for the waitress who got the Kolley Kibber card and changes her table to Rose’s section. Ida asks Rose what it was like...
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Ida begins to ask Rose what she noticed about the Kolley Kibber man, suggesting that, having won those prized 10 shillings, she will probably never forget him....
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...of Guinness for him and Ida. Ida grabs Rose by the arm, asking if the Kolley Kibber man had much to eat. Rose says she served him a Bass and a sausage...
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Part III, Chapter 3
...message with a man whose voice reminded her of the same man who left the Kolley Kibber ticket under her table cloth. Pinkie decides she needs to be scared again. She’s getting...
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Part VI, Chapter 2
...asks her why she thought the cops would come for him, and she whispers “ Kolley Kibber .” Pinkie realizes she knows all about what happened to Hale. She’s known the whole...
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Part I, Chapter 1
Charles Hale is in Brighton on assignment from the Messenger, a newspaper. He is distributing Kolley Kibber cards around the seaside town, trying his best to be spotted by a loyal Messenger...
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