Monday 19 December 2011

What the Dickens?



2012 sees the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth and the celebrations start with some TV adaptations this Christmas.
But how many of his books have you actually read? And do you have a favourite?
Would it be the ever popular Christmas Carol?
or Great Expectations with the unforgettable Miss Havisham?
Or the boy who wanted more - Oliver - which is next year's City Read.
City Read London is a campaign to spread a love of books and reading to the widest possible audience throughout our capital. By choosing one book - Oliver Twist - for the whole city to read, discuss and debate, it aims to bring Londoners together in a series of special events, across London and online.
City Read London will launch on 2 April 2012.
 Follow the link from the front page of Bex-L to read 'A daily dose of Dickens' online.

27 comments:

Bex-Read said...

I read quite a few Dickens novels during my time in educational establishments and, so far, my favourite is Hard Times. Set in a Lancashire mill town in the 1840's it appealed because of my interest in the history of industrialization in Britain. It shows the ethos of 19th century industrial Britain where human beings became enslaved to machines.
However, last year - unaware of the plans for the City Read - I re-read Oliver Twist and found that I really enjoyed that too.
Have you read any Charles Dickens? Let us know what you thought and if you have a favourite.
Jill

The Phantom... said...

Did anyone see that Dickens spoof on TV last night? Wonderful, and very, very, very, very funny! (I loved Stephen Fry’s mutton-chop whiskers, and his expanding hat…oh, and the treacle addiction was good, too).
Splendid stuff. “Please BBC, can we have some more?”...

Bex-Read said...

Dear Phantom
I believe you are in luck. Last night was a Christmas special to be followed by three more 30 minute episodes in the New Year - so watch out for those. It really was extremely cleverly done,wasn't it?
As well as this spoof, the BBC is showing costume dramas of 'Great Expectations' just after Christmas and later, 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood'. Writer Gwyneth Hughes has created an ending for Dickens' last unfinished novel.
'A Tale of Two Cities' about the French Revolution will be the Radio Four Book of the Week just after Christmas.
If you've never read a Dickens' novel, these radio and TV versions would be a good way to try one.
Jill

Lisa said...

I love Charles Dickens - his books are great for really getting lost in. My favourites are David Copperfield and Great Expectations, which the BBC are doing a new adaptation of at Christmas so I'm really looking forward to that as the BBC always do Dickens so well.

Bex-Read said...

Here's a little known fact about Dickens and a book which may be new to you.
When his writing was not going well, he couldn't sleep, or writing a dramatic chapter had left him emotionally exhausted - Dickens liked to go for long walks, sometimes for a whole night.
He describes the things he saw on his walks in London, in a little book of essays called Night Walks, available from the Central Library in Bexleyheath.
Jill

Jo-Anne said...

Here's another less known little book by Dickens and others.

'House to let' by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Adelaide Anne Procter and Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell.

The story revolves around an elderly lady, called Sophonisba, who has been advised by her doctor to move to London for a change of scenery.
She rents a house and spends her time looking out of the window at the house opposite which is vacant. The house makes her feel uneasy and she becomes obsessed with why it had been empty for so long.
Her faithful servant, Trottle, and an admirer, Jabez Jarber, are persuaded to find out, each competing against the other as to who can find out the most interesting information.

This is where the story really begins.

It is a bit like a story within a story, with each author taking it in turns to write a chapter and contributing a different reason as to why the house is vacant, some bits are better then others, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins wrote the first and last chapters together and Charles Dickens edited the rest of it.

I thought it was a very good read and at less than 100 pages not too long.
If you have never read a book by any of these authors, this would be a good one to start with.

Bex-Read said...

Thank you, Jo-Anne, for that interesting recommendation. It sounds intriguing.
If other readers are intrigued too, there is copy of this title at the Central Library in Bexleyheath.

Wishing all our readers a happy Christmas break and looking forward to hearing about your favourite Dickens after Christmas.
Don't forget to watch Great Expectations!
Jill

Bex-Read said...

More news of Dickens' adaptions on TV.
On Friday this week BBC2 is showing three Dickens' stories back to back. Starting at 9am there will be David Copperfield, followed by The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and then A Tale of Two Cities. If you enjoy the story on television, try the book - you'll find there is much more than they have time to show on screen.
Oh - and if you missed 'The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff' [the Dickens' spoof mentioned earlier by the Phantom] it is repeated tomorrow night on BBC2.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

I hope you've had the opportunity to enjoy some Dickens' stories over the holiday.
Looking for a fresh idea for one of your New Year resolutions?
Why not plan to celebrate Charles Dickens' bicentenary by joining us in the City Read novel Oliver Twist?
If you don't already belong to one of our reading groups - why not come along? They will be reading Oliver Twist as one of their books. You can find out where and when they meet on the Read and Relax pages of Bex-L.
Or look out for special events in libraries during the City Read in April.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year.
Jill

ogeneabu said...

I was renewing my books online when I saw the Oliver twist link. I've always wanted to really read the full version of one of Dickens's books, and I think this is an excellent way to do it. It really makes me appreciate the real talent of these lomg ago writers who didn't have the benefit of computers, recordings, and all. I really hope to finish Oliver Twist and move on to another classic.
Thanks.

Bex-Read said...

Delighted to hear that you like the link. When I read Oliver Twist last year, I decided to do it in the same way as Dickens' original readers. Oliver Twist was one of the books which Dickens' published in weekly installments, so I only read one chapter a week and so was left with the same cliffhangers as the original readers. It made it quite a different experience from reading the book as a set text.
Jill

Caroline said...

I have to confess I've not actually read any Dickens in the original, only adaptations as a child. A couple of years ago a friend told me that 'A Tale of Two Cities' was one of her favourite books and she re-reads it often, so I gave it a try. I quite enjoyed it, but got distracted by another book when I was about half way through and never picked it up again - I hate it when that happens as I can never decide whether to try and carry on where I left off or start again from the beginning! Perhaps I'll look out for it on Radio 4.
I like the suggestion of reading the books one chapter a week, I might do that with Oliver Twist - I wonder if I start now would I get through it by April?

Bex-Read said...

Dear Caroline
No, not by April - there are 51 chapters in Oliver Twist, so it takes a year that way. The link on the Bex-L front page is to read it in 173 bite-size sections - only 86 days left until April! But I do recommend the book - there is more in it than film versions and there are surprising touches of humour, even though the story is about the rough reality of the Victorian poor.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

If you'd like to find out more about Charles Dickens' life - click on the Charles Dickens cover on the Seriously now page of Bex-L [under Read and Relax on the Home page] for a link to biographies about him.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

The BBC's two-part adaption of 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' begins tonight on BBC2.
Dickens' did not finish this novel, as he was writing it when he died.Involving a tangle of intrigue and murder - the intended end is a true mystery and many have speculated on how Dickens would have resolved it.
For this adaption crime writer Gwyneth Hughes has written an ending to the story. After researching the novel and letters and conversations of Dickens with others, she has put herself in the place of a leading character and chosen the ending that seems to fit their story.
Dickens was trying a new type of novel with this story - a 'sensation' novel with a network of puzzles intended to bring an atmosphere of suspense.
Here is an opportunity to watch the programmes, then read the book and make up your own mind about how it should end.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

Look out for 'Dickens in London' on BBC Radio 4 from the 6th - 10th February.
Dickens in London presents five short plays based on Charles Dickens' journalism about walking in London to tell the story of the writer's life. Adapted by Michael Eaton they form five Radio Plays depicting Dickens's impressions of London and forming a biographical portrait.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

Did you watch Edwin Drood? Do you agree with the ending? I'd be really interested to hear your views here on Bex-Read.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

Booksellers revealed yesterday that the TV adaptions of Dicken's have led to an increase in sales of his books. If you've been encouraged to try a Dicken's novel - share it with us on Bex-Read.
Today 'Hard Times' is beginning on BBC Radio 4 Extra. I really enjoyed this novel even though it is about Hard Times for many of it's characters. Try it if you can.
Jill

Caroline said...

I'm going to give the Radio 4 reading of Hard Times a go-this is what's so great about the BBC iPlayer, where you can listen to the recordings any time in the next seven days-its great too for my other favourite programme, Composer of the Week on Radio 3. In non-Dickens book news, has anyone who's read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo also seen the Daniel Craig film? I saw the film the other day and wondered if it's worth reading the book-does much get left out of the film? Do you find out much more background about the main characters?

Lisa said...

Caroline, as with all books made into films/tv series there is always stuff left out but especially with Dickens because he packs so much into each sentence let alone each chapter! I would definitely recommend reading one of his novels. As to The girl with the dragon tattoo I would say yes you must read the books as they are so good and you get more of an idea of why the characters are like they are and if you are going to watch the film watch the original Swedish ones, I haven't seen the Daniel Craig one but I don't think the Hollywood version would have the same impact.

Bex-Read said...

Hello, Correspondents – Guest Editor here!

You’re right about the i-player and all that stuff, it does mean you can catch up on stuff which was lost before…We eventually caught up with Edwin Drood this way. (Did anyone else see it?)

Well, it’s interesting to see Daniel Craig getting a look-in on our Dickens pages! Dickens & Bond, now that would be a combination!

Bex-Read said...

Hello everybody - apologies for everything going quiet here. No sooner had our guest editor arrived than there was a technical hitch. Hopefully all is well now, as today is Dickens' birthday. To celebrate there is display of his novels and books about him in the Central Library - look out for more displays in your local library.
BBC Radio 4 is now broadcasting it's Dickens in London programmes at 7.45pm each night until Friday 10th February.
Dickens in London presents five short plays based on Charles Dickens' journalism about walking in London to tell the story of the writer's life. Adapted by Michael Eaton they form five Radio Plays depicting Dickens's impressions of London and forming a biographical portrait.
They are just 15 minutes long, so why not give them a try?
Jill

The Phantom said...

Isn’t it wonderful to see how much publicity Dickens is getting today – he’s everywhere! Press, Radio, TV and – of course – libraries.

I’m sure that the old boy would have been delighted by all the fuss.

Bex-Read said...

I think you're right - he was very into promoting his work and undertook many tours of public readings of his works, some for profit and some for charity. He read in British towns and cities , Paris and the USA.
Jill

Bex-Read said...

Bringing us back to the beginning - a short series of the Dickens' spoof - The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff - begins on BBC2 on Monday 20th February at 8.30pm.
Jill

The Phantom said...

The Bleak Old Shop of stuff is back – Huzzah!

By the way, has anyone encountered `Dickens fatigue`?...A lot of the press seem to be getting a bit sniffy about too much Dickens, but – personally – for me, the more I see, read and learn about the old chap, the more impressed I am!
What does anyone else reckon?

Lisa said...

You are right, Phantom, you can never have too much Dickens. His stories are fantastic, all of life is there, and the man himself is very interesting.