Lost and Found
On this day 200 years ago a boy was born who would divine the age of Victorian England in such detail that his name would forever be enshrined in descriptions of the trivially convivial with the squalid and destitute of society.
‘Dickensian’ is a two-tone fiction, made flesh in caricatures which jump from the page in one-dimensional portraits of devilish delight and downright wickedness. In the Victorian melting pot of human mores, the characters muddle and huddle together in a criss-cross of tales for long evenings and cliff-hanger serialisation.
“Dombey sat in the corner of the darkened room in the great arm-chair by the bedside, and Son lay tucked up warm in a little basket bedstead, carefully disposed on a low settee immediately in front of the fire and close to it, as if his constitution were analogous to that of a muffin, and it was essential to toast him brown while he was very new.” 1
Street Orderly boy
The arrival of son Dombey into hearth and home is for little Oliver, an illegitimacy and Parish workhouse away:
“…And for some time he lay gasping on a little flock mattress, rather unequally poised between this world and the next: the balance being decidedly in favour of the latter. Now, if, during this brief period, Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts, experienced nurses, and doctors of profound wisdom, he would most inevitably and indubitably have been killed in no time. There being nobody by, however, but a pauper old woman, who was rendered rather misty by an unwonted allowance of beer; and a parish surgeon who did such matters by contract; Oliver and Nature fought out the point between them. The result was, that, after a few struggles, Oliver breathed, sneezed, and proceeded to advertise to the inmates of the workhouse the fact of a new burden having been imposed upon the parish, by setting up as loud a cry as could reasonably have been expected from a male infant who had not been possessed of that very useful appendage, a voice, for a much longer space of time than three minutes and a quarter.” 2
My first dip into Dickens was probably a child’s abridged ‘A Christmas Carol’. It was not however Tiny Tim who conjured an interest but the magic that David Lean’s lens brought to the childhoods of Oliver and Pip. 3 Delving into the books soon followed and whilst the saccharine Little Nell scarcely held my curiostity the boys’ stories were mesmeric. Under my Grandmother’s staircase I discovered and delighted in dusty hardbacks with David Copperfied and Nicholas Nickleby read so closely upon the heels of the other that the two are irrevocably entwined, requiring a re-read for dissection.
glowering Garden gates Gray's Inn
Though written for adults, the growing child discovered in Charles Dickens a sympatico for the inconsolable hard knocks, night frights and desolations, where only the particulars differed in accentuation and detail:
“In the little world in which children have their existence whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice. It may be only small injustice that the child can be exposed to; but the child is small, and its world is small, and its rocking-horse stands as many hands high, according to scale, as a big-boned Irish hunter.” 4
Dickens fed his protagonists on moral morsels and just deserts, at a high cost to themselves and often with an accompanying sacrifice of innocents. Thus the toasted muffin Dombey fades and dies in young boyhood whilst Oliver threads his way back through the twists of fate to a grandfather’s love and creature comforts.
Dickens google doodle
Yet tragedy is really only half of the stories and in the quirky nomenclatures, clownish characters and droll quips, Dickens is master of humour, even at the gallows. Over this bicentenary, he will indubitably be done to death as it were, with his bones picked over for every scrap of angst (whilst the author turns in his grave in high dudgeon too with the BBCs dramatised bowdlerisation!). Whilst I do not wish to scavenge per se, it will be refreshing to give an airing to the artful narrative of a quirky wit who brought levity even into the dark and grimy corners of our London streets. It is for this that perhaps Charles Dickens should be resurrected in 2012.
I’d be interested to know what delights others may have had when digging Dickens and don’t forget to delve into the deluge of D posts with the discerning team of ABC Wednesday
If I had realized it was the anniversary, I would have written on CD myself.
Good job!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Roger Green read my post..D is for Dominion
Who could not love the work of Dickens? Great post for the 200th anniversary. I too was exposed to his work in A Christmas Carol. Is it not amazing his works have never been out of print and are relevant yet today
Donna read my post..Night Lights in the Garden
never outdated Donna
I am not familiar with the Dickens but I love that first two photos.
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
Rose read my post..Date
One of my most fav of authors… I like this post !!
PhenoMenon, ABCW Team
PhenoMenon, ABCW Team read my post..Door Knocker – Day 332
- a damson for picking is Dickens for D, Roger!
- your children might like his stories Rose
- welcome and thanks for hosting pheno
Finished Claire Tomalin biography a week or so ago – too much about books and too long but what a life he had!
Duncan Darbishire read my post..OF DYING DUCKS AND STUNNED BLUETITS
an appropriately alliterative D commenter Duncan – thanks for the Tomalin feedback. As crossed in love was Dickens as his tales I understand
I also delight in the stories of the boys…Oliver, Pip and David in particular. And I think the most delightful part of Dickens work is the humor and the antics of the other characters as they interact with the main character…what an incredible post…I loved your descriptions and taking us through the best part of his works…
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Gardens Eye Verse-February
yes Donna, Dickens makes me laugh aloud & description of Oliver’s birth a classic example
Laura – A great tribute. It’s interesting to read your words next to Dickens, I can’t “divine” the difference.
b-a-g read my post..Birdbath (04 FEB 2012)
I’m enchanted by the happy feet of your little streetsweeper. Find the G doodle a disappointing Bowdlerisation ;~)
Elephant’s Eye read my post..Seven steps built by a mud wasp
I have long felt a strong kinship with Dickens. His books were a joy to read as a child. My favorites are A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations, and yet I find most of his books enjoyable. I saw the Google logo dedication to him yesterday and thought it was a nice gesture. We love him at least as much as the British do.
The Sage Butterfly read my post..Unruly Raspberries
- just a jot of Dickens would do me, b-a-g
- and in reality Diana, would have been tired little feet – Steet Orderlies
- Dickens spent time in the States too
I have taken a very long time to come round to Dickens. I found the sentimentality irksome and the melodrama annoying and for years refused to read it at all, once I passed the stage of my education which required it of me. I am still not sure. I feel myself teetering on the edge of trying again. I must be getting old.
welshhillsagain read my post..What do you wear when gardening?
Dickens was required reading in high school, and maybe it lost its appeal because it was dissected, analyzed and tested. But I truly enjoyed Great Expectations. Happy Birthday to a great author!
I’m a huge Dickens fan, too. Although I’ve never been to London, I feel like I have a sense of its spirit–partially through Dickens’ wonderful descriptions…even if they were from long ago. Great post!
PlantPostings read my post..Nearly wordless: unprepared!
I grew up with Dickens in film and book, although it’s a long time since I picked one up. It was interesting to see the adaption of the unfinished “Edwin Drood”.
As a person he was very influential. His treatment of John Rae the eminent Victorian explorer and discoverer of the North West passage was appalling. And has yet to be rectified.
Janet at Planticru Notes read my post..The Allure of the Orchid
I’m currently struggling with Little Dorritt. It tantalises – as if it’s going to be really good. Then it changes key. Then it changes pace. A bit annoying. On the other hand, Nicholas Nickleby (once one has gone beyond a beginning of irritating caricatures) is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Lucy Corrander read my post..I’M A TREE FOLLOWER – WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Must admit to getting off to a bad start reading wise with Dickens but was very young at the time – about eight if memory serves me well. Secondary school days yielded more positive experiences but I still have not read all his books. Have seen film versions, tv adaptations of many of them though which have been both enjoyable and most thought provoking. A most discerning post for D Laura.
Hi Laura,
Fabulous post. I had tea at Gad’s Hill Place many years ago. We lived nearby, and my daughter had a tennis tournament there. I was thrilled when the teachers offered to show us around the house.
For me, it was amazing…..loved absolutely every minute of it.
I love the writings of Dickens….they can be very dark, but somehow, in the right mood, they can appeal to me.
BTW My daughter won her match, and I was very proud of her.
Hi Laura! Most amazing Dickens! No one like him . . . he has some of the most extraordinary characters ever. Intriguing reads each and every time . . . interesting too that he is often writing from his own life experiences.
Carolflowerhill read my post..Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES 2011 ~ Eastern Tiger Swallowtails ~ Part Two
Oh, I meant to say how much I enjoyed your post! Well Done! ;>)
Carolflowerhill read my post..Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES 2011 ~ Eastern Tiger Swallowtails ~ Part Two
I love all of Dickens’s books, especially Oliver and A Christmas Carol. The images are amazing, and I am always saying things like “reminds me of Mrs. Havisham’s wedding table” or “more please”. Have been under the weather so behind on blogging.
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..February GBBD: New Hellebores for 2012
glad to hear so many critical appraisals
- we have reached an age for firesides and Dickens, Elizabeth
- necessary to dissect Dickens for socio/political context but ruins the narrative Deb
- disliked the finishing off of Drood, Janet though might make a good English Lit exercise
- me too Lucy, Nicolas (and Smike) is a fave and Dickens does irritate
- now attempting all the Dickens I’d not read, Anna.
- what a great day for you and sporty daughter Cheryl, anyone for Dickens and tennis?
- never to seem to come across such characters today, Carol
- Carolyn, he has set scenes that imprint in memory as real