Cinderella's shoes

First of all, I just want to say that although I don't always respond to every comment, I deeply appreciate them all. When one is planning and then running a blog dedicated to a single 19th-century author -- or at least when I am -- one occasionally has moments of wondering if there will be any interest in the project, or if one will end up just prattling away into the void. So your feedback and fellowship are a wonderful encouragement. You all help make this little blog what it is and help keep it going, and I'm very grateful.

Now then, I just wanted to share a cool little discovery I made the other day while looking something up in Little Dorrit. My copy (1985 Penguin Classics edition) uses Dickens's original "running titles" -- a brief line describing the action on the page -- at the tops of many of the pages. Some of them are just simple, straightforward descriptions, but others provide intriguing bits of insight or even snark. (The page where Affery tells Arthur about her marriage to Jeremiah is headed "A Love Story.") 

I often forget to look at these running titles as I'm reading, so there are probably quite a few I've never even seen yet. Just the other day I noticed for the first time that on the page where Amy and Maggy are visiting Arthur in his apartment, and Arthur notices how cold Amy's foot is as he touches her shoe, the running title is "Cinderella's Shoes." 

Till I saw that, it never occurred to me to connect the various "dots" of the chapter -- Amy's fib about going to a party, her daydream of dancing with Arthur, and above all her "Prince Charming" kneeling by her shoe -- and see the reference Dickens was hinting at. I wonder how often I miss things like that? At any rate, I'm so glad I finally saw this one -- it warms my mushy little heart! :-)

Comments

[Deleilan]

I discovered your blog a few days ago, and I truly enjoy reading your entries. Although I'm a native French speaker (from Quebec), I've always been fascinated by the English language. This has led me to authors such as Dickens, who can weave pictures from words with unequaled elegance and wit. Unfortunately, living in a francophone environment means that I'm unable to share my enthusiasm with anyone "in real life". For this reason, blogs such as yours have become essential to me. Never for one moment think that you're "prattling in the void"!

I was happy to see that we seem to have been struck by the same scenes in "Little Dorrit", especially in part 4. And that reference to Cinderella? Who says Dickens can't be romantic! :-)

[Rob Velella]

I can relate to what you say in your first paragraph!! I haven't read "Little Dorrit" but these running titles sound great. I love subtlety in literature, and that Cinderella reference was perfect; if you miss it, no big deal - but it's there if you find it!

[christopher harris]

Makes it worth going out and finding the Penguin's Classics edition. Thanks for sharing, Gina. Cheers! Chris

[Gina]

Again, thank you all so much!

Rob -- I had a feeling you would understand. :-)

Deleilan -- your English is excellent. Better than that of many native English speakers I've known, actually!

[Christy]

That is so sweet. I need to go look at that and see if it's in my edition.