All good things must end, I suppose.

Just wanted to tell everyone how much I'm going to miss this class! :( I've really enjoyed our discussions and the actual content of the class. I hope everyone has a great summer!

New website on Queen Victoria

Something I came across, in conjunction with Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, I suppose: lots of interactive material!

http://www.queen-victorias-scrapbook.org/index.html

We are most amused... ;-)

Haven't yet seen the 2nd episode of GE (but I have it on DVR).  I'm leaning (as you know) with Eric here.  I really missed the great boxing scene in the brewery courtyard between Pip and Herbert.  It not only serves as a precursor to their later meeting, it explains so much about Herbert's character.

On another note, I thought I'd direct you to the "Dickens Project" page which has a birthday image of Dickens... even goofier than my cake.  There's also an interesting collection of advertisements from Our Mutual Friend.  Above, just one example, is an ad for Antihelminthic Bon-Bons... which itself opens a window (as it were) on the periled of Victorian domestic life.  The chemist and druggist, Thomas Keating (1787-1870), was well known for his manufactured remedies... including a famous cough drop.

Another successful "chemist" was Thomas Holloway, who produced many medicines, including the ointment (below), with an implausible testimonial beneath it.

“Benjamin Cox, Esquire, Magistrate, said that he knew a man who had been in the infirmary and was actually turned out as incurable. On his way home, he purchased at Ennis, Holloway's Pills and Ointment, for, as he said, it could not be worse with him. This man, said Mr. Cox, became by their use as sound and as healthy as any man in the room. These celebrated Pills and Ointment, when rubbed upon the skin, will cure any wound, sore, or ulcer, however long standing, if properly used according to the printed directions."

Alan (Helminth-Free for over 40 years)

Map of Modern London set in a Victorian style

http://www.wellingtonstravel.com/p/grand-map-of-london-2012.html

Check this out! Nice look to it...

Variety Reviews - Great Expectations - TV Reviews - - Review by Geoff Berkshire

Variety Reviews - Great Expectations - TV Reviews - - Review by Geoff Berkshire

This came up on my Facebook feed this morning, and I thought you guys might find it interesting!

BBC's Not-So-Great Expectations

Alright, I watched the first episode online and have to echo some of the complaints I've heard. It seems like it was more "based" on Great Expectations, instead of an accurate retelling of Dickens' novel. Almost like they took Dickens' characters, and some very basic elements of plot, and set them loose on the screen. Here are my biggest complaints:

1. Pip and Joe didn't even participate in the manhunt on the marshes. And when they found Magwich, Joe did try to act angry in an indignant, dramatic, and pathetic sort of way. He isn't as henpecked by Mrs. Joe either, but stands up to her, more or less. He wasn't the Joe from the novel.

2. Where's Mr. Wopsle, his Aunt, and (most of all) Biddy? The contrast between Biddy and Estella, and Pip's relationship with both girls, is a huge part of the novel. You can't just write Biddy out of the script.

3. Alright, let's be honest - Ms. Havisham is hot. Even though she's old and freaky, she's hot. Estella, on the other hand, isn't (hot or freaky). You're supposed to be attracted to Estella (see Gwyneth Paltrow version for more on this) not Miss Havisham.

Alright, I'll still watch the second episode now that I've found the channel, but so far I'm disappointed in this adaptation.

Great Expectations with Gillian Anderson

I'm hoping that we'll all be able to watch this adaptation except... perhaps those of us who have already seen it--"Magwitch-style" (and avoided transportation!).  Anyway, as you can see, the review is not entirely favorable... but adaptations do tell us as much about contemporary concerns as they do about an understanding of the original text.

http://tinyurl.com/Great-Expectations-BBC

Here's What Humbert Humbert Looks Like (as a Police Composite Sketch) - The Atlantic

Not completely apropos, but still incredibly neat.  This guy is using composite software and descriptions from books to render images of characters.  I am certain there is a way to add the appropriate vestments to Bill Sikes and Nancy, should Eric feel so compelled.  :)

Here's What Humbert Humbert Looks Like (as a Police Composite Sketch) - The Atlantic

Additional resources

I am certain it will come to no one's surprise that I belong to the Dickens' Listserv.  Also, I know that there are a myriad of research options for Dickens.  However, if you find that you are looking for something in particular, and more recent, let me know because I have the emails archived and can do a search through them.  However, I cannot do a search of them in the 11th hour before the paper is due - at least not for you, as I will probably be doing my own search.  :)

Just an offer!

liz

Adrienne Rich

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/03/adrienne-rich.html

Oldest Film of a Dickens Character

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre82800k-us-dickens-film/

Thought you all may find this interesting! :-)

Em

The murder that I was thinking of in class--that deeply influence Collins, Braddon, and even Dickens was the "Road Hill Murder" (1860) in which a little child was brutally and mysteriously murdered. The ostensible murderer (who confessed), was the 16 year old Constance Kent (1844-1944), though suspicion has fallen on a number of other individuals.  The case was pursued by Jonathan Whicher of Scotland Yard... and the story has been retold in 2008 in Kate Summerscale's The Suspicions of Mr Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House.  (See: http://tinyurl.com/RoadHillMurder)


Alan

Cambridge University Press Site

I just learned about this site, sponsored by Cambridge UP.  It looks like it might have great potential.

http://www.cambridge.org/us/dickens/

Dickens v. Vonnegut

This might be a slightly random, but I was trying to authenticate a quote from Vonnegut and when I looked it up, it was being juxtaposed with this one from Dickens' Hard Times.

Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts
alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else. And root out everything else. You
can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever
be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own
children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to
Facts, sir! — Charles Dickens, Hard Times, (1854)

Vonnegut's Quote?

“A great swindle of our time is the assumption that science has made religion obsolete. All science has damaged is the story of Adam and Eve and the story of Jonah and the Whale. Everything else holds up pretty well, particularly lessons about fairness and gentleness. People who find these lessons irrelevant in the 20th century are simply using science as an excuse for greed and harshness. Science has nothing to do with it.” – Kurt Vonnegut

As an Americanist, I may be partial - but all things being equal I'd give this round to Vonnegut. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt the pairing of the two quotes by this website was unfair. First of all, I don't think they were talking about the same thing really. And secondly (and more importantly) I think that Dickens (based on everything I've read thus far, especially A Christmas Carol) would have agreed with Vonnegut wholeheartedly.

Feel free to weigh in, or not...

I hope that you are paying attention to "Fairy Tale" references in D& S.  Here's the story of Dick Wittington:

Dick Whittington was a poor orphan. Hearing of the great city of London, where the streets were said to be paved with gold, he set off to seek his fortune in the city. Once there, of course, Dick could not find any streets that were paved with gold. Hungry, cold and tired, he fell asleep in front of the great house of Mr. Fitzwarren, a rich merchant. The generous man took Dick into his house and employed him as a scullery boy. Unfortunately, Dick's little room was infested with rats. Dick earned a penny shining a gentleman's shoes, and with it he bought a cat, who drove off the rats.

One day, Mr. Fitzwarren asked his servants if they wished to send something in his ship, leaving on a journey to a far off port, to trade for gold. Reluctantly, Dick sent his cat. Dick was happy living with Mr. Fitzwarren, except that Fitzwarren's cook was cruel to Dick, who eventually decided to run away. But before he could leave the city, he heard the Bow Bells ring out. They seemed to be saying, "Turn again Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London". Dick retraced his steps and found that Mr. Fitzwarren's ship had returned. His cat had been sold for a great fortune to the King of Barbary, whose palace was overrun with mice. Dick was a rich man. He joined Mr. Fitzwarren in his business and married his daughter Alice, and in time became the Lord Mayor of London three times, just as the bells had predicted.

Another Dickens Article in the Sunday Times...

It's a long one ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/magazine/dickens-world.html?src=recg

Cheers,

Eric

Wow... I'm better than that...

I really sliced that photo, we should crop it to get rid of all the extra space on the left. I'm not sure what I was thinking, I was busy trying to make sure Meghan got in and (I'm guessing) I was trying to get the gigantic image of Dickens projected on the board in it as well. Was the other photo this bad (bad meaning "off-center")? Plus, there was smoke in the room, and my contacts were hazy and dried out, and I think the viewing window was dirty, and the sun was in my eyes...

I'm better than that.

Regardless. Good cake. Good celebration. Good people.

Dickens characters traced...to real life

I can't remember if we've discussed the"Dickens and the Workhouse" book yet, but I thought I'd post this. Interesting bit on 10 Norfolk St.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/01/charles-dickens-real-character-names

Thanks to all for celebrating Dickens's Birthday!  We were a day late late and a pound short... but the love was there!  Thanks also to Megan for guiding us through Oliver Twist... (more to come and I'll be sending out a piece on poor laws soon), and to Saxby for braving multiple hours (morning and evening) of Dickens.

Happy Birthday Charles!  You old cove you!

Apologies to Cassie.

San Eric Olsen- photographer here.

Here's a new one: Dickens and Home Interior Decoration!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/24/charles-dickens-world-home-interiors

Looking forward to celebrate tonight!

Emily

We're not yet into "Bleak House" but here's a essay from Today's NY Times about Dickens and lawyers:

http://tinyurl.com/Dickens-Lawyers


Keep in mind that tomorrow is Dickens's 200th Birthday.  We'll celebrate on Wednesday?


Any postings about Oliver Twist?  Pay attention to the transition that Dickens makes from "Editor" (Pickwick) to authorial voice (OT).  Consider as well the "development" of Oliver as a character.  Is it strong or full?  Who is Oliver?  Neither Fagin nor Bill Sikes are presented in a favorable light... though Nancy is... Oliver is... and there's some question about the Dodger and Fagin's other conscripts.

Lastly, here's an image  (by William Heath) which I "found" at the NYPL a few years ago... while working there.  It shows the Jews in both the "Rag Trade" and in the fencing trade (Moses Levi's Pawn Shop).  The "green" bags are symbolic in that green bags were used to store evidence in the British Judicial system.  The title puns on "juvenile" although the "Dodger" in the background seems to be an adult.  Note the dialect as well:  "Get the monish--honestly if ye can--but get the monish."


If you're interested in images, try the NYPL Digital Gallery or Guidhall's (London) image gallery called "Collage."




Alan

Dickens on "Here and Now"

NPR is anticipating Dicken's Anniversary!  There was a small feature on "Here and Now" that you might want to listen to.  Remember... Dickens's  Birthday is on Feb. 7!

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/02/03/charles-dickens-anniversary

Alan

Charles Dickens: The 19th Century Zuckerberg?

Thought this might appeal to everyone:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-social-network-charles-dickens-wrote.html

Anyone up for discussion thisWednesday? ;-)

Emily

A Communist Christmas Carol??

Alright, I've finished "A Christmas Carol" and I can't help reading it from a Marxist perspective. Especially in passages like:

" 'Is there a peculiar flavor in what you sprinkle from your torch?'
...
'Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?' asked Scrooge.
...
'To any kindly given. To a poor one most.'
'Why to a poor one most?' asked Scrooge.
'Because it needs it most.'" (77)

There are numerous examples of this call for a redistribution of wealth and urging for social equality.

I'd also reference passages such as : '...forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than million's like this poor man's child..." (82).

Long live the 99%, Viva la Dickens!

Thoughts?

Eric

p.s. Get well soon Saxby.

Pickwick Papers - narratorial voice

I find the use of an editor as narrator's voice very telling in The Pickwick Papers.  First, Dickens compiled the vignettes as an editor would do.  Second, yet not to confuse the idea of author/narrator, while there is an inherent distancing that occurs in being an editor, these stories are the editor's creation.  And, lastly, there is a conspiratorial air to using the word "we".  If conspiracy is too strong of a word, there is, at least, a sense of complicity.

Did Dickens choose this style because he was new at fiction (having been commissioned to write the narrative to accompany Seymour) ?  Or, was this the convention at the time?  

Welcome to the Dickens Seminar Blog

Dear Dickens Seminar Students:

Welcome to the blog for the class.  I'm getting adjusted to this mode of communication myself... so bear with me, but I think we'll all find it very useful.  I look forward to participating in exchanges with you... and reading your insights, exchanges, and observations.

Alan