The Edwin Drood-related books just keep coming! Some of you will recall that I spent a week or so blogging Matthew Pearl's The Last Dickens back in March. (Speaking of Pearl, he has an interesting new audio interview about "bookaneers" and other perils of Dickens-era publishing, over at NPR.)
Later this week, or possibly early next week, I'll start blogging Dan Simmons's Drood, which will probably take a lot longer. From the size of it, I think I can use it as a very effective doorstop when I'm not reading it.
And now comes a new English translation of Jean-Pierre Ohl's novel Mr. Dick, which has ties to both Edwin Drood and David Copperfield. There's a good interview with Ohl here. I'm trying to get a review copy of his book too.
And capsule reviews of all three books -- The Last Dickens, Drood, and Mr. Dick -- can be found in this article.
While I'm at it, I'm also going to try to get a review copy of Richard Flanagan's Wanting, which, for a change, isn't Drood-related but features Dickens as a major character.
And then I think my brain is going to need a vacation!
Gina, I think you'll very much enjoy Dan Simmons' "Drood." I loved it! First, it is a wonderful spooky mystery and just completely transports the reader into the heart of the Victorian Period; and secondly, it really provides an incredible window into the character and personality of both Chas. Dickens and William "Wilkie" Collins. Personally, I was so glad that I'd read Collins' fabulous novels "The Moonstone" and "The Woman In White" prior to reading "Drood." I can't wait to see what you think of this novel, and I will definitely take a good look at "Mr. Dick." Have a great day! Cheers!
Posted by: christopher harris | May 13, 2009 at 11:43 AM