Dickensblog

First look at Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham

Definitely not as crazed-looking as Helena Bonham Carter. But then, I don't think any of us expected she would be!

 

I had to crop the picture a tiny bit. For the full version, click here.

Correction

Lucinda Dickens Hawksley very kindly dropped by to let us know that the Australian reporter I cited gave an entirely wrong impression of her new biography. Thanks to Ms. Hawksley for setting the record straight!

Updates on the adaptations

David Nicholls, screenwriter for the Great Expectations feature film, tells BBC News the following:

• They've just been filming Ralph Fiennes's boat escape scenes. Cool!
• They've filmed Helena Bonham Carter's scenes and it was an "extraordinary experience." Intriguing!
• And . . . they've written a new ending.

 

I try not to go on rants too often around here, but if you'll permit me, I'm going to take just a moment for one:

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENDING OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS. LEAVE IT ALONE ALREADY.

Thank you.

Meanwhile, in Edwin Drood news, it seems Freddie Fox (Edwin) and Tamzin Merchant (Rosa) are now an item. Ordinarily I don't report on the private lives of actors, not being a gossip columnist, but I always think it's rather interesting when life imitates art!

Update on bicentennial activities

This article discusses worldwide celebrations in general, while this one focuses on the BFI's Dickens On Screen.

Dickens at the Morgan

Yesterday I had the chance to go up to New York City with a colleague, to attend a talk and dinner. With some free time in the afternoon, I walked over to the Morgan Library and Museum and spent a blissful hour at the "Charles Dickens at 200" exhibit, examining original manuscripts, letters, illustrations, and photographs with such close attention that the guard eventually had to warn me to stop leaning on display cases!

There's no catalogue of the exhibit; instead, the gift shop sells a special edition of A Christmas Carol, containing both a printed version of the text and facsimiles of the original pages in Dickens's handwriting. Some of the other Dickensian items in the gift shop can be seen and purchased here.

The taking of photographs inside the museum is prohibited. (Very strict, those guards.) But I did get this shot of the Dickens banner in front of the museum. It's a wonderful exhibit, and I highly recommend it if you're going to be anywhere near New York City in the next couple of months.

Is Stephen King the new Charles Dickens?

What do you think?

Dickens Idol

Now this would be a talent contest worth participating in!

A Dickens Christmas at the National Cathedral

My friend Wendy sent this along. It looks lovely, and I'm going to try to go if I can!

Pip smackdown!

Okay, that sounds a little melodramatic. But as we now have our first photo of Jeremy Irvine as Pip (courtesy of Empire Online), I thought you all might enjoy some compare-and-contrast. Just at first glance, which Pip appeals to you more?

Jeremy Irvine (feature film):

 

 

Douglas Booth (miniseries):

(Try to ignore Booth's cell phone; I'm pretty sure Pip won't be carrying one in the finished film.)

Sharpen those pencils

The Guardian wants you to review your favorite Dickens novel! Go here for details.* The names of all reviewers will be entered into a drawing at Christmas, in which you could win one of the novels in the clothbound Penguin edition.

*As you'll see at the page, there's another bit of news: a new "digested read" (spoof) of Bleak House. Here's the direct link to that.