what the dickens

I only discovered Dickens a few years ago, having been seriously scared by the opening chapter of Great Expectations when we had to read it at school, and then not understanding a word of the rest of the book. So before I found out for myself what Dickens really had to say, I was all too familiar with the stock stories about him being the embodiment of Victorian good cheer and sentimentality, the super-energetic father-of-ten, the creator of lots of jolly characters and a fair few soppily angelic women, the stage-manager/entertainer, the man whose main message was often reduced to 'drink punch and enjoy Christmas'.

Now that I am better informed, I am quite surprised that these caricatures and clichés are being trotted out once again in the newspaper reviews of, and articles about, the two new biographies of Dickens by Claire Tomalin and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst. It's really just the same old, same old stuff, but spiced up for modern audiences with a good dash of 'shock-horror-Dickens-had-a-secret-mistress-and-treated-his-wife-badly' (because, goodness knows, when a man writes a whole bookshelf of masterpieces, that's actually all we are expected to be interested in.) The mistress, Nelly Ternan, has been known about for many years, so it baffles me that it's this aspect of his life that is taking up so much space in reviews. What about his phenomenal imagination? What about his incredible output? His amazingly inventive vision? His creation of an enormous cast of strange and often very unlovely characters? His unique sense of humour? His wonderful ability to create word-pictures that stay in the reader's mind for ever?

And another thing, while I'm on the subject. Dickens' books are very far from the jovial, sweet, happy-ending stories of the popular imagination. I was reminded time and again when reading them, that he can be a very dark and sometimes cruel and subversive writer which adds fantastic depth, shading, and contrasts to his books. He self-censored very heavily and wanted to be seen as a family man and family writer, but the novels and journalism are nevertheless full of grotesques, oddballs, villains, and sinister characters and underhand doings. It's these things that makes his books so spectacularly original, not the supposed jollity and Victorian fireside warmth. I suppose it's easier to sell books with sex (Dickens', not his characters') and to subject him to a modern, morally dubious trial by media, but I really do think there's much, much more to him than is he given credit for in the latest fallback retelling of the Dickens story.

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I am reading both new books at the moment. While Claire Tomalin's is very readable, and thorough yet brisk, it remains pretty conservative. As though it's the official 2012 commemorative biography (the year of Dickens' bicentenary). Robert Douglas-Fairhurst's book is more experimental, but sometimes loses me in its underlying 'what if' idea. 'What if' isn't always the most productive line of questioning after the event, I find.

For my money, there are three writers who look at Dickens' work (and life) in illuminating ways that do justice to Dickens' amazing imagination: GK Chesterton, John Carey, and Jane Smiley. They did more than any doorstopper biography or erudite journal to open up the Dickens universe to me. As did Adam Roberts.

Comments

[Emma B]

I too only discovered Dickens recently Jane, having started with the Christmas trilogy last year. I quickly realised after reading what is so far only a snippet of his work that no film or TV adaptation can ever do real justice to the images and atmosphere his language creates. I happily lost myself in his stories and was also amazed to find many phrases and idioms I had thought were very modern in his work. You've just prompted me to start my next Dickens, not sure which one yet but thank you!

[Peg in Kensington, California]

I am listening to Nicholas Nickleby at the moment. Dickens is a wonderfully imaginative writer with descriptions of people, scenes, and situations that cannot be beat. In the last couple of years, I have listened to the Pickwick Papers (hilarious on so many levels), Bleak House, and Little Dorritt. Little Dorritt rightly earns the criticisms about soppily, angelic heroinen. I really think Great Expectations is an incomprehensible book at any age. My law firm has been involved in a lawsuit of late that seems to me to be a continuation of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.

[charlotte]

I have to confess to having a huge blind spot where Dickens is concerned, and I feel as though I am missing out. I've tried and tried (Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and several attempts at various others), but I just don't 'get' him. I find characters like Old Joe just a total pain and I have to say I hurled Oliver Twist across the room when I finally reached the end. A very good friend of mine absolutely adores Dickens and keeps urging me to try again, she cannot see how I cannot see his brilliance - she suggests David Copperfield. I do remember when I was about ten reading the first couple of chapters of Great Expectations, and being so scared I had to hide the book in another room. But by the time I came to read it for O Level its magic had gone. I'll have to track down Jane Smiley and John Carey - perhaps they will provide the key!

[Jo Kan]

Interesting... I am reading Great Expectations to my daughter and I am loving it (I did it for O level and loathed it then) for reasons you describe: the inventiveness, vividness, insight into character. I'm keen to read the Tomalin book.
My daughter, incidentally, who is only 10, understands not one word and I can see why. We are only reading it as we have been advised to for 11 + preparation. In fact she is supposed to be reading it herself but I knew there was not much chance of that...
I'm starting to think that classical music, classical literature are things you have to grow into . Or maybe my mind has slowed down with maturity to a pace where I can take it in? Or I am not looking for the same emotional experience from reading? Or I have read so much rubbish I can finally see the difference?

Maybe we should not be putting such emphasis on the classics for children and teenagers? While they are bursting with energy, maybe we should be concentrating more on teaching them other things about life, life right now, like running their own businesses, mortgages, technology. Then when they get to middle age they will, hopefully, have a chance to slow down and appreciate these things.
Just musings..
Jo

[busybusybeejay]

We have just come back from a few days in northern France.Between Le Touquet and Boulogne is a small place called Hardelot Plage.It said in the Green Guide that there was a chateau there modelled on Windsor castle by an Englishman.We were amazed when we got there to discover it was hosting a Dickens exhibition (in France this year)commemorating D's bicentenary next year.D used to holiday here with his family.It was only 2 euros to go in and was amazing.Loads of memoribilia,a reconstructed dining room,his writing desk,reading desk used in his talks,so many letters etc.It will come to Britain next year.Try and catch it.it on in france until Oct 23rd.This really interested me because my late father was an expert on Dickens(I have his complete leather bound collection) and in his spare time used to give talks about Dickens.

[Helene]

I love your post. Many moons ago, when I was a young teenager, my father kept pushing a copy of David Copperfield under my nose. I resisted for a few years, but finally succumbed. I was completely smitten with it, and hold it as one of the best books I've read, and one of my all-time favourites.

[Valerie J. Frey]

I'm American but honeymooned in London. I picked up a copy of Dicken's _A Child's History of England_ at Harrod's and enjoyed it immensely. I was surprised because in the American South, Dickens has a reputation of being dark and full of depressing characters. From reading your post, I assume his reputation is different in his home country. Interesting!

[Margaret Mullally]

Your post is very variable and so enjoyable.
Just reading The Everyman Chesterton, published by Everyman's Library, and the chapters on Dickens are a joy to read. I have read most of Dickens books but having studied Great Expectations for my A Levels it's still my favourite Dickens, also my favourite book.

[Emily]

I have just started back with Dickens - having been scared by him as an undergrad - and I am truly loving Little Dorrit.

[Ali]

My eldest's school play this year is Great Expectations. My heart sank. I didn't enjoy Dickens at all at school and I suspect that Jo Kan is right - too much, too young. But perhaps he will surprise me.

[Pomona]

I wrote about Dickens in my thesis - his needlewomen are very interesting (particularly the violent ones!), and although for years I wrote him off because of his apparently simplistic attitude to women, when I actually got round to reading and thinking properly I came to the conclusion that this was actually very complex and a very productive area to research and write about. My absolute favourite is Our Mutual Friend - I think I could reread that one an infinite number of times. I was lucky enough to do an MA course with Malcolm Andrews, who edits the Dickensian and wrote Dickens and the Grown-Up Child. As to biographies, Peter Ackroyd's is a bit of a tome, but really worth reading for its comprehensiveness if nothing else. (Sorry to go on - you've hit a button there!)

Pomona x

[Carol Wilkie]

I just cannot see the attraction to Dickens. I find his books very dark and depressing. Mind you I have only watch the movies and mini series! But they did not have me running to buy the books. Am I missing out?

[Liz]

Ah, the joys of 1970s secondary education, being forcefed Dickens at the age of 12, with different girls reading the characters' words. A killer in every way imaginable.

Perhaps I should give him another go ...

Enjoyed your talk in Warwick last week.

[Nancy]

Another biography of Dickens is the one that Peter Ackroyd wrote (published in 1990). Being a rather dark writer himself, Ackroyd's biography is quite different from all the others--if I recall correctly, he includes a dialogue between himself and Dickens and interviews himself about his reasons for writing a biography of Dickens. It is well researched and very long (over 1000 pages).

[Carie]

My favourite is a Tale of Two Cities but it isn't a happily ever after tale (poor Sydney) and Dickens almost seems to pastiche the people who do get a happy ending.

[Lora]

We have so many tastes in common because I do love knitting and baking and photography... and Dickens! I do agree that some contemporary reviewers seem to miss all the fine points.. not just in Dickens, but in many other of the great ones. Since a few years ago I have adopted a little tradition of my own: reading a Dickens novel in the month of December. December is my Dickens' month, every year. I just feel his novels are so good to be read when the winter is at its tickest.. Last year I enjoyed Nickolas Nickleby.. I thought it was so good.. just the 'classical' Dickens tale. I still have to decide which one I have to read this year... Uhmm,, why did you find Great Expectations so hard? One of the Dickens' novels I have to reread is Bleak House.
I will tell you how my DecemberDickens goes this year. And thanks for the recommendations of authors on Dickens you liked!

[Jake at Dapper and Dreamy]

Your comments don't just apply to Dickens. So many of today's biographies try to force our modern morality on characters of the past. It's such a dull and sanctimonious way of looking at people, and reveals little of what their lives were like in the context of their times. We also tend to dismiss people's successes based on the more unsavory characteristics. I suppose in some cases this is fair, but generally, it does a great disservice to the reader and the subject.

Thanks for your views on Dickens.

Jake
www.dapperdreamy.blogspot.com

[Bonnie Buckingham]

I was looking up GKC's book online and there you had it! Our favorite is Little Dorrit. Quite a story and BBC production. It grabbed my 13 year old daughter.

[Bonnie Buckingham]

GKC wrote a biography on Dickens in 1906:

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/CD-Chesterton-CD.html

[LoriAngela]

I read his complete works as a young mom at home. I found Norrie Epstein's The Friendly Dickens to be an invaluable companion.

[herhimnbryn]

Have you seen/heard Miriam Margoles do her one woman show 'Dicken's Women'? She adores Dickens, but sees him with a realistic eye. Her voices for the various characters are wonderful and she gives a useful insight to his private life.

I don't know if she is on audio cd or dvd, but I think you would enjoy listening to her, if you could find it!

Like you I was put off Dickens at school (Great Expectations for 'O' level). I too found him later in life.

[Lisa G.]

I'm so surprised at several of you English ladies not liking "Great Expectations"! I loved it in high school. (Of course, when I think of Pip now I picture Michael York) But his characters are so extreme, if that's a good word (- not sure). I *have* to watch "A Christmas Carol" every year (Geo. C. Scott version). What is it about his characters - they're so exaggerated they're like "types", rather than realistic. I mean, do we really know people like that? Or are we just not paying close-enough attention to individuality?

Every now and then I see a book review which praises the novel's characters as "Dickensian", but that's rubbish - it isn't possible; the times now are so different, and that was a huge part of it, and him.

[D A Nelson]

I love Dickens. Enough said.

Dawn x

[Jeanne]

I've been a lover of Dickens for many many years. So glad you have discovered him afresh...many many happy hours of reading ahead!

[Sue G-J]

David Copperfield breaks my heart every time I read it. I think Dickens is a writer who, if you know a bit about his biographical background is easier to 'get'. I know Ackroyd's book is long but it's well worth the effort and Forster gives a wonderful memoir of how CD suffered just as DC (reversed initials) did as a child alone in London. Like a puppy, 'Dickens is not just for Christmas'! (Hope you post this, 'The Reader' never publishes any of my contributions now which is sad, really.)