In "Housekeeping vs. the Dirt," Nick Hornby expresses a desire for his personal reading journey to reflect the vastness and diversity of the British Empire around 1900. This metaphor captures his aspiration to explore a wide range of literature and cultures, akin to traversing the many territories and experiences found within that historical empire. Hornby's comparison highlights the richness available in literature and the importance of broadening one's reading horizons. He wishes for his reading habits to encompass various genres and voices, much like the British Empire encompassed a multitude of peoples and regions at the turn of the century, encouraging readers to expand their literary map.

In "Housekeeping vs. the Dirt," Nick Hornby expresses a desire for his personal reading journey to reflect the vastness and diversity of the British Empire around 1900. This metaphor captures his aspiration to explore a wide range of literature and cultures, akin to traversing the many territories and experiences found within that historical empire.

Hornby's comparison highlights the richness available in literature and the importance of broadening one's reading horizons. He wishes for his reading habits to encompass various genres and voices, much like the British Empire encompassed a multitude of peoples and regions at the turn of the century, encouraging readers to expand their literary map.