The Fourth Bear

Eleanor here-
I just finished Jasper Fforde's latest in the Jack Spratt Investigates series The Fourth Bear.
I loved the Eyre Affair and the rest of the Thursday Next series, but I love these crime tales from the Nursery Crime Division of Reading, Berkshire. It makes me want to go back and read all about these rhymes. I looked up the Jack Sprat rhyme and here is what I found on http://www.rhymes.org.uk/jack_sprat.htm

The Jack Sprat alluded to in this English poem is reputed to be King Charles I (1625-1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609-1669). Apparently, when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament.

The poem is a lot better than that little bit of a history lesson.

You should also look at Fables by Bill Willingham. A different Jack Sprat is featured in those comics, but his wife isn't really seen. She is just that fat; she probably cannot fit out of their home.