Dickensblog

From the book pile, part 2

A Child's Journey with Dickens by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin (Nabu Press, 2010. Originally published in 1912.)

Kate Douglas Wiggin would become well-known as the author of the children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. But in 1868 she was a child of eleven, longing to see her idol, Charles Dickens. (She and her family had named "almost every living thing" on the farm "after one of Dickens's characters.")

When he came to America, her mother went to hear a reading, but Kate wasn't allowed to go. She did go to town with her mother, but the tickets were so expensive ("there was a general feeling in the community that any one who paid it would have to live down a reputation for riotous extravagance forever afterward") that no one even thought of taking her along to the reading."If any martyr in Fox's 'Book' ever suffered more poignant anguish than I, I am heartily sorry for him," Wiggin writes, "yet my common sense assured me that a child could hardly hope to be taken on a week's junketing to Charlestown, and expect any other entertainment to be added to it for years to come."

Can you imagine? I think our cultural philosophy about children and pleasures has changed considerably since then -- fortunately for the children!

Anyway, little Kate had the last word in that situation, because on the train to Charlestown . . . guess who she ran into? And ended up sitting next to, and had a wonderful conversation with?

The best of times: Notes from my bicentenary trip

By David Perdue, Guest Blogger

Upon my return from London for events surrounding the Dickens Bicentenary. I received an email from a fellow Dickens Web site owner, Ritva Raesmaa, from Finland. She also attended the events, although sadly I did not meet her. She summed up the few days in London as a “once in a lifetime” trip . . . and I heartily agree!

A few thoughts on 'Martin Chuzzlewit'

I actually finished the novel some time ago, but haven't had a chance to write about it until now.

So . . . this was not one of my favorite Dickens novels. But I didn't expect it would be. I generally favor mid- to late Dickens. And beyond that, a lot of the criticism that this book gets is pretty accurate. Doctor Who, for instance, was spot-on about the "American bit." I know I can't help being a little biased, but the parts about America went far beyond the kind of satire he usually does, and were just plain heavy-handed. Once again, I'm grateful that he at long last made up his quarrel with us, and inserted that conciliatory postscript into the book! But he really should have held off writing this until he was in a bit of a better mood, I think.

Also (spoiler alert) . . .

Dickensian top ten

Readers of the Mirror have voted on the top ten Dickens characters. And the winners are:

1. Ebenezer Scrooge - A Christmas Carol
2. Miss Havisham - Great Expectations
3. Sydney Carton - A Tale Of Two Cities
4. The Artful Dodger - Oliver Twist
5. Fagin - Oliver Twist
6. Joe Gargery - Great Expectations
7. Pip - Great Expectations
8. Nancy - Oliver Twist
9. Abel Magwitch - Great Expectations
10. Betsey Trotwood - David Copperfield

Not how I'd have had it, but there are some good picks there, and with Sydney in the top three, I'm reasonably content. How about you?

Parties, parties everywhere

• Philadelphia will celebrate the big day today at Clark Park, complete with a birthday cake and a serenade to the statue of Dickens.
• The author's birthplace of Portsmouth is celebrating big time, of course. This article features a few of the goings-on. And Dom Kippin, literature development officer for Portsmouth (what a nice job title!), was kind enough to send me a long list of all the celebrations they'll be doing this year. These include, on the day itself (Tuesday), a service of thanksgiving for Dickens's life and works at St. Mary's Church, daylong festivities at the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, a performance by Simon Callow at the New Theatre Royal, and two different celebration dinners, one at the Royal Naval Club and one at the Dolphin.
• Meanwhile, a pub in Suffolk will be featuring various Dickensian beers, such as Bah Humbug and Micawber's Mild, all week long.
• And this article has a roundup of various global celebrations that will be taking place.
• The Charles Dickens Museum and the Morgan have some nice birthday deals!

7 Quick Takes Saturday

There wasn't enough room in yesterday's 7 Quick Takes Friday to cover all the recent items of interest. So here's a sequel!

• The Niagara Advance has a cool story about how one Canadian man's love of Dickens got him an invitation to Buckingham Palace.
• The Londonist has a roundup of bicentennial events taking place in the city.
• In a case of terrible timing, the Charles Dickens Museum is closing for renovations for several months this year.
• A new Irish film version of A Christmas Carol "was cast, crewed, financed and distributed via Facebook . . . with everyone working for nothing." And you can rent it through the film's Facebook page.
• The Independent asks, "Is Dickens suitable for children?"
• A New Jersey middle school might have the answer to that: It held its sixth annual "Dancing with Dickens" event last month, and according to this report, the students had a blast.
• Dickens has a crater on Mercury named after him! Who knew?

7 Quick Takes Friday

• Edwin Drood screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes talks about the adapting experience in the Guardian (her theory: Dickens died so he wouldn't have to work on the book anymore). And the Daily Mail has a bunch of actor, producer, and director interviews. No trailer yet, but I'll put it up as soon as I find it. 
• Speaking of Edwin Drood, the Guardian also has a story about all the attempts made over the years to solve the mystery. They've got a couple of great (though rather grainy) pictures from the famous John Jasper trial held in 1914, with G. K. Chesterton as the judge and George Bernard Shaw as the foreman of the jury.
• The annual Riverside Dickens Festival is being held in Riverside, California, this weekend. It will focus on A Christmas Carol.
• The BBC News Magazine will be posting a Dickens quote every day this year. You can suggest quotes in the comment box on this page.
• British Tours Ltd is introducing a series of new Dickens tours.
• Mark Charles Dickens, the author's great-great-grandson, is backing a German campaign, named after Oliver Twist, that sends presents to needy children in Moldova.
• Author and professor Howard Jacobson loves Dickens but has issues with the BBC's treatment of him. Here, he explains why.

Dickens: The next generation

Meet the newest Dickens!

Joe Alan Charles Robinson, born last month, is Charles Dickens's first great-great-great-great-grandchild. His mother, Holly Dickens Robinson, has a really good interview in the Mirror. She talks about her pride in her heritage, and about how she'll start introducing Joe to his ancestor's works in a few years, starting with The Muppet Christmas Carol. Sounds like an excellent plan!

(Image copyright The Mirror)

On being a Dickens

A couple of recent interviews by Dickens descendants:

• Harry Lloyd -- currently playing Pip in Great Expectations -- talks about how much he enjoys both being a member of the Dickens family, and playing Dickensian roles. There's a photo of him in GE.
• We've talked before about another well-known novelist in the family, Monica Dickens. Here, still another descendant who's a novelist, horror writer Mary Danby, talks about hearing her aunt Monica read A Christmas Carol when she (Mary) was a child.

7 Quick Takes Friday

• The A.V. Club reviews three versions of A Christmas Carol: the 1970 animated version with the voice of Alastair Sim, the 1984 adaptation with George C. Scott, and my childhood favorite Mickey's Christmas Carol. Reviewer Zack Handlen observes: "There’s a reason this story gets told again and again: It just makes sense, in a way that’s hard to pinpoint, the way some stories seem to have existed long before anyone ever thought to put them down in words." Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times has a photo gallery of both film and stage Scrooges through the years.
• Here's a nice story about a family who really, really love A Christmas Carol.
• Thanks to James Clarke for letting us know that another of his short films about Dickens has gone online.
• The Guardian's John Mullan names Miss Wade from Little Dorrit one of the 10 best literary governesses. Um . . . define best.
• Salvation Army volunteer John Garenkooper had the brilliant idea of dressing up as Dickens to collect donations.
• Speaking of donations, here's another plug for our bicentennial charity fundraiser. If you're interested in participating, don't forget to get your page set up and start recruiting sponsors. The kickoff date for the readathon, January 1, is just a little more than a week away!
• On a personal note, I had the good fortune of seeing Gerald Dickens perform A Christmas Carol again, for the third year in a row. (And got my picture taken with him for the third year in a row -- see below.) He signed my copy of A Tale of Two Cities this time; I told him I'm going to keep coming back until I have a complete set of Dickens novels signed by him! While at the Golden Goose store for the signing, I picked up this adorable Dickens Village figurine. I've never bought one of those before -- but a figurine of a Dickens booksigning for sale at a Dickens booksigning? It was just too perfect!