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