Statues, Figures, and Irving Finkel

In the novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell there is a wonderful passage in which the statues in York Minster Cathedral are brought to life by magic and begin to speak. The Into My Own blog speculates what the "statues and figures that can be seen in Edinburgh" might be pontificating about.
And this Irving Finkel, mentioned in the article in regard to the Lewis Chessmen? He’s real…though probably not Edward Gorey’s doppelganger, this inspired curio of the British Museum (“an Assyriologist specializing in Mesopotamian magic and medicine…also interested in the history of board games throughout the world…”) reminded of us of Murgatroyd Freel, the man ran-afoul by Professor Childermass’ temper.

Links:

• britishmuseum.org
• time.com
• photo at flickr