By Art Kilmer, Guest Blogger
On June 9, 1865, author Charles Dickens almost died. Pick up any biography of Dickens, and you will find at least a couple of pages about the Staplehurst Rail Crash. On that day, Dickens; his mistress, Ellen Ternan; and her mother were traveling by rail from Boulogne to London, when the train derailed at Staplehurst, Kent. Due to a miscommunication and negligence, the train plunged over a bridge that was only half finished. Ten people died that day, and many others were physically and, as in Dickens’ case, mentally impacted for the rest of their lives. For Charles, that would be another five years to the day.
Actor and author Gerald Dickens, Charles’ great-great-grandson, has made an effort to shed more light on this event. In his new book, Dickens and Staplehurst: A Biography of a Rail Crash, Gerald attempts to give full details of the event. Not only does he explain what happened to Dickens on that tragic day, but we also learn about the ten victims, some of the survivors, and the railroad employees who were involved with the crash.
As Gerald says of his book: “At its heart this is a story of a single moment in time: a biography of a day.”
He gives us the context of the day of the train crash as found in sources like newspapers and journals, as well as providing brief biographies of Dickens and Ternan. It is a typical biographical sketch of Charles, and those who have read biographies of Dickens shouldn’t expect anything too revealing. What makes this section worthwhile is Gerald’s inclusion of quotes and sections from surviving letters as well as some autobiographical writings by Dickens. Also, Gerald brings up the possibility of Charles’ having PTSD from childhood trauma, adding to that the trauma of experiencing such a horrific crash. His handling of PTSD is excellent, including his reflections on how it might have impacted Dickens in his final remaining years, right up to his death on the fifth anniversary of the train crash.
Part 2 of the book covers the crash itself, and Part 3 explores the aftermath, including the inquest that followed the wreck, and the discovery of the cause of the accident. Gerald shows great skill in being able to organize and present all the different parts of the accident in an interesting and informative manner. He tells us how Dickens managed to escape from his train carriage as it dangled over the bridge, how he helped those who were hurt, and comforted those who were dying. And then he goes on to explore how the tragedy impacted people involved and what happened to them.
This is the perfect book not just for Dickens fans, but scholars too. Gerald taps into his ability as a performer to tell a story both riveting and informational. This book will be a helpful resource for future biographers who will use it to explore the event that both haunted and changed Dickens.
Art Kilmer, a voracious reader, is the host of The Bookshelf Odyssey Podcast and YouTube channel, and also of The Cozy Christmas Podcast, both of which are just an excuse to talk about Charles Dickens and Victorian literature.
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