Dickensblog

Inspired by 'Great Expectations'

If you happen to spot a novel in the bookstore titled Great Expectations with the author listed as Vinson Cunningham, you're not seeing things. Debut novelist Cunningham borrowed Dickens's title for his semi-autobiographical story of a young Black worker on the Obama presidential campaign. But according to Slate's generally positive review of the book, "The title is the only Dickensian thing about Cunningham’s novel."

However, Welsh novelist Crystal Jeans does have a novel in the works whose plot is loosely based on that of Dickens' novel. Titled Accidental Darlings, the book is set in the 1920s and '30s and follows an orphan girl, Anastasia, who goes to live with her mysterious aunt. The book will be published by The Borough Press; no release date has been given yet.

TCM alert

David Copperfield (1935) airs on the channel tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 10 a.m. Eastern, as part of a lineup honoring the 100th birthday of Freddie Bartholomew (young David).

Dickens celebrated on the Isle of Wight

Last month, Ian Dickens, great-great-grandson of the author and former president of the Dickens Fellowship, hosted a celebration of the 175th anniversary of Dickens's summer visit to the island. Several Dickens cousins, including Mark Dickens, Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, and Ian's brother Gerald Dickens took part in the festivities, which included a museum exhibition, a children's writing competition, and performances by Gerald. Gerald has an enthusiastic and enjoyable writeup of the event on his blog. 

TCM alert

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) airs on the channel at 8 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, as part the 31 Days of Oscar celebration (it was nominated for Best Editing). 

The Miss Havisham monodrama

An operatic monodrama, before you ask, is a one-person opera -- and who better to carry a piece like that than Dickens's Miss Havisham? Composer Jacques Cohen wrote The Lady of Satis House back in 2012, in honor of the author's bicentenary. Now it's just had its first recording.

This interview with Cohen gives all the details. And here's where you can find the recording, released by Meridian Records and starring Marie Vassiliou with the Tippett Quartet.