Dickensblog

'A Christmas Carol' candle

If you feel like doing a bit of Dickensian decorating, check out this cool candle!

A Dickensian Halloween

In honor of the day, Digital Journal discusses some of Dickens's ghost stories, and reports on actor Dominc Gerrard's reading of them at the Charles Dickens Museum. And at Anglotopia, Bryan Kozlowski shares with us "Charles Dickens' Top Five Horrible Words for Halloween."

(H/T The Buzfuz)

'A Dickensian Alphabet' poster

This delightful poster by Tom Gauld, full of Dickensian figures and tropes, is a limited edition, so if you're interested, better hurry! (Another edition is scheduled for release later this year.)

News on Dickens's descendants

• Cedric Dickens, a great-grandson of Charles, would have turned 100 on September 24, and he's getting a party! Cedric's daughter Jane Monk has completed the memoir her father left unfinished when he died in 2006. The book, My Life, will have its official U.S. launch October 22 (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) at the Union League in Philadelphia, sponsored by Frank Giordano of the Philadelphia Pickwick Club. RSVP to Rick Bravo at ribravo55 AT verizon DOT net (you know the drill) if you'd like to go! (H/T The Buzfuz.)
• Great-great-great-grandson Ian Dickens recently became a volunteer with Beanstalk, a child literacy charity. In this interview, he talks about how his ancestor's legacy -- not just as a writer, but also as a performer -- helps him teach children to read.

'The Life of Our Lord' up for auction

The Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, California, are auctioning off a first American edition of The Life of Our Lord. Go here for details on the silent auction, which ends Tuesday. 

A far better wall hanging

If you'd like to hang a Dickensian last line on your wall, Etsy shop Luminous Particular can oblige you! They have a Great Expectations one (from the revised ending, not the original one) and two different versions with the last line from A Tale of Two Cities. They also do custom requests. 

(H/T Book Riot)

A rose by any other name

Behold the Charles Dickens rose, introduced by Ronnie Rawlins of Style Roses at the RHS Hampton Court Show! 

New exhibition on Catherine Dickens

The Charles Dickens Museum will launch an exhibition about Dickens's wife next month. The Guardian has the story, including a photo of a striking ring that Catherine left to her sister Georgina.

'Dickensian' now available on DVD

That is, it's available for the lucky Brits! We Americans continue to wait . . .

Levenger's Dickens editions on sale

Today only, you can get these facsimile editions of Dickens's prompt copy of David Copperfield (the condensed edition he used for his readings) and the original Christmas Carol manuscript for 50 percent off!