Dickensblog

Famous last words

The ending of A Christmas Carol makes Ron Charles's list of "the 23 most unforgettable last sentences in fiction" in The Washington Post.

Of Charles, Catherine, and Cook

Last week The Times Literary Supplement published a story by John Bowen about his investigation of letters written by journalist Edward Dutton Cook, a neighbor of Catherine Dickens after her separation. Cook wrote several letters to fellow journalist William Moy Thomas, another friend of the Dickens family, describing what she had told him about her marriage and its ending.

In an 1879 letter, written as Catherine was dying, Cook wrote of that ending: "[Dickens] discovered at last that she had outgrown his liking. She had borne ten children and had lost many of her good looks, was growing old, in fact. He even tried to shut her up in a lunatic asylum, poor thing! But bad as the law is in regard to proof of insanity he could not quite wrest it to his purpose."

TCM alert

Oliver! airs on TCM today at 2 p.m. Eastern, as part of the channel's 31 Days of Oscar celebration.

R.I.P. Albert Finney

The acclaimed British actor, who played the title role in the 1970 film musical Scrooge, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82. 

Birthday roundup

Just catching up on a few Dickens birthday articles from yesterday: 

• The BBC's HistoryExtra website shared a few quirky facts about Dickens's home life, including his love for parties and his taxidermied pets!
• Newsweek offered a few basic Dickens facts and popular quotes in honor of the day.
• Female First compiled a list of actors who have played Dickens. I knew about Simon Callow, Dan Stevens, and Ralph Fiennes, but not the others. (I certainly didn't know about Anthony Hopkins!)
• And finally, Londonist had an article about the pubs that every Dickensian should know.

Happy 207th birthday, Mr. Dickens!

He looks good for two hundred and seven, 
So let's turn up that dial to eleven. 
Everyone gather here
To wish Dickens good cheer
In a voice he can hear up in heaven.

(Do you know how many words in the English language rhyme with "seven"? Almost zero, that's how many. I should have come up with the birthday limerick idea back when he was two hundred and six.)

Meet 'The Seamstress'

Have you ever wanted to know the story of the seamstress who goes to the guillotine together with Sydney Carton? You're in luck!

Yesterday was launch day for The Seamstress by Allison Pittman. I've already had a chance to read and endorse the novel, which digs deep into revolutionary French history to tell the story of Renée the seamstress, her cousin, Laurette, and their guardian, Émile. Allison has built a plausible and absorbing backstory for this character of whom we had only had a glimpse before, and I loved getting to know her better. Her talent, loyalty, and quiet strength take her farther than she ever could have dreamed, but also lead her directly into danger. But though we already know her unjust fate, it's impossible to wish that she had lived her life any other way.

Now there are two things I should tell you hardcore Dickensians going in (because you'd never forgive me if I didn't): (1) Renée's story doesn't converge with Sydney's until the end, which is understandable, since she doesn't meet him until the last moments of her life. I do like the way he's brought in, though. (2) There are some slight changes made to Dickens's account of things. You'll have to judge that part for yourself. But to do that, you'll need to read the book, and I hope you will! Aside from adding a bit of depth, color, and background to the story we already know and love, it's an excellent story in its own right.

Birthday festivities

Dickens's birthday is coming up, and the Dickens Birthplace Museum in Portsmouth will offer free admission to celebrate! Go here to learn more. In the meantime, Dickens fans in Philadelphia held their annual birthday bash by the Dickens statue in Clark Park. Philly Voice offers a glimpse into their hallowed tradition.