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Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens
The strange and varied lives of the ten children of the world's most beloved novelistCharles Dickens, famous for the indelible child characters he created—from Little Nell to Oliver Twist and David Copperfield—was also the father of ten children (and a possible eleventh). What happened to those children is the fascinating subject of Robert Gottlieb's Great Expectations. With sympathy and understanding he narrates the highly various and surprising stories of each of Dickens's sons and daughters, from Kate, who became a successful artist, to Frank, who died in Moline, Illinois, after serving a grim stretch in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Each of these lives is fascinating on its own. Together they comprise a unique window on Victorian England as well as a moving and disturbing study of Dickens as a father and as a man.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2012
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About the author
Robert Adams Gottlieb
55 books20 followersRobert Adams Gottlieb (April 29, 1931 – June 14, 2023) was an American writer and editor. He was the editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster, Alfred A. Knopf, and The New Yorker.
For many years, Gottlieb was associated with the New York City Ballet, serving as a member of its board of directors. He published many books by people from the dance world, including Mikhail Baryshnikov and Margot Fonteyn. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Miami City Ballet
Gottlieb was a frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The New York Times Book Review, and had been the dance critic for The New York Observer from 1999 until 2020.
For many years, Gottlieb was associated with the New York City Ballet, serving as a member of its board of directors. He published many books by people from the dance world, including Mikhail Baryshnikov and Margot Fonteyn. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Miami City Ballet
Gottlieb was a frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The New York Times Book Review, and had been the dance critic for The New York Observer from 1999 until 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 5, 2017
If you see Dickens as a champion of children because of his portrayal of characters such as Tiny Tim, Little Nell, Florence Dombey or Oliver Twist you may want to think twice before reading this study.
Gottlieb's book traces the early lives of Dickens's children with their father and then follows their lives after his death in 1870. The book reveals that Dickens was disappointed in the way most of his children turned out. Indeed, Dickens banned his son Sydney from his home in Gad's Hill and wrote that he wished Sydney were dead. While it is true that Sydney did try his father's patience, these extreme comments and measures seem to contradict the Dickens one finds on the pages of his novels.
Gottlieb does provide balance to his book and explains how Dickens was frequently delighted with his children and was a warm and entertaining father. The general rule of the Dickens household seemed to be that as long as you agreed with and submitted to Charles Dickens's own view of how you should be as a child and young adult, all was well. It is apparent that Dickens had little time or patience for any free will or independent thought. Perhaps this explains many of Dickens's fictional children who are one-dimensional and somewhat placid in nature.
There are many instances in this book where Gottlieb will comment or quote from a source that I felt should be acknowledged. While the book does not pretend to be an exhaustive study, I feel much of the information presented needed to recognize its source.
I would caution any readers of this book not to expect a fully researched and scholarly study. It is, however, a one stop source of interesting information.
Gottlieb's book traces the early lives of Dickens's children with their father and then follows their lives after his death in 1870. The book reveals that Dickens was disappointed in the way most of his children turned out. Indeed, Dickens banned his son Sydney from his home in Gad's Hill and wrote that he wished Sydney were dead. While it is true that Sydney did try his father's patience, these extreme comments and measures seem to contradict the Dickens one finds on the pages of his novels.
Gottlieb does provide balance to his book and explains how Dickens was frequently delighted with his children and was a warm and entertaining father. The general rule of the Dickens household seemed to be that as long as you agreed with and submitted to Charles Dickens's own view of how you should be as a child and young adult, all was well. It is apparent that Dickens had little time or patience for any free will or independent thought. Perhaps this explains many of Dickens's fictional children who are one-dimensional and somewhat placid in nature.
There are many instances in this book where Gottlieb will comment or quote from a source that I felt should be acknowledged. While the book does not pretend to be an exhaustive study, I feel much of the information presented needed to recognize its source.
I would caution any readers of this book not to expect a fully researched and scholarly study. It is, however, a one stop source of interesting information.
October 2, 2015
Charles Dickens's ten flesh and blood children don't seem to have held the same charm or fascination for him that the children of his imagination did - probably because the children that he put into his books were really all a part of his soul, fragments of his damaged psyche. Pip, Tiny Tim, Little Nell, Jo the woebegone street sweeper of Bleak House, the Artful Dodger, David Copperfield - especially David Copperfield - all of them were reflections of Dickens's younger self, and he used them to reenact all of the hurt and anger and humiliation and loss that he felt as a child raised by feckless, neglectful parents.
Having pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, Dickens seems never to have been able to bear the thought of his own children not having to do likewise, even though he was capable of providing them with many of the advantages that he so sorely missed in his own upbringing. While he doted on all of his children in infancy and early childhood, and made their young lives a veritable paradise of holidays by the sea, amateur theatricals, toy theaters, and tender nursing through their youthful illnesses, he lost interest in them once they started to pull at his purse strings, and jettisoned them one by one - to Canada, Australia, India, the Royal Navy, and in the case of the girls into strange marriages and stranger spinsterhoods - rather than support them or allow them to rely on him financially. Interesting to see how they all fared - some better than others. And even more interesting to see a side of Dickens one might not suspect - a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching covetous old sinner not unlike old Scrooge himself.
Oh. And what he did to his wife? You won't believe it! Just shameful.
Having pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, Dickens seems never to have been able to bear the thought of his own children not having to do likewise, even though he was capable of providing them with many of the advantages that he so sorely missed in his own upbringing. While he doted on all of his children in infancy and early childhood, and made their young lives a veritable paradise of holidays by the sea, amateur theatricals, toy theaters, and tender nursing through their youthful illnesses, he lost interest in them once they started to pull at his purse strings, and jettisoned them one by one - to Canada, Australia, India, the Royal Navy, and in the case of the girls into strange marriages and stranger spinsterhoods - rather than support them or allow them to rely on him financially. Interesting to see how they all fared - some better than others. And even more interesting to see a side of Dickens one might not suspect - a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching covetous old sinner not unlike old Scrooge himself.
Oh. And what he did to his wife? You won't believe it! Just shameful.
March 14, 2013
I've done enough play therapy, evaluation, education and yes, parenting to explain and justify interest in how people's children turned out. This book is a real bonanza if you are interested in such things. Dickens reached double figures in children, and is quoted in this book as saying, "why was I ever a father!" It was a different time and place, and he (and he alone) devised a plan for each of the kids. The stories read quickly and are entertaining as well as edifying. He apparently sent his wife packing when many of the children were still relatively young, so there is that preview to the debate about the effects of divorce (he didn't actually divorce his wife). One of his sons became a judge, and a quote from that son's memoir showed how facility with words continued down the generations: "On one occasion I was sentencing a very old hand - a "lag" of the worst kind - with all the dignity which the occasion required, when he interrupted me by saying, "You ain't a patch on your father." "I quite agree with you," I said. "What do you know about my father?" "Oh! I have read all his books." "Where?" I said, knowing that he had been in prison most of his life. "Well, I have read some in prison." "Have you?" I said; "that's capital; for you will now have eighteen months in which to resume your studies."" The quote is on page 211 of the book.
July 13, 2020
There's a small group of people who share a fate that most of us can't begin to imagine: being the descendent, particularly the son or daughter, of not just a celebrity, but a superstar. Always going through life hearing, ad nauseum, accolades to your famous parent; always being compared, but never quite measuring up. As I read this book about the children of Charles Dickens, I heard the news that Elvis Presley's grandson, a bit of a doppelganger for his famous granddad, had committed suicide. The pressure can be, in some cases quite literally, unbearable.
I really found this book fascinating. That's not to say that it gave me a greater appreciation for Charles Dickens - if anything, I found him even more repellent, sadly. His children felt pressure to excel not only from outside forces, but from their famous father, as well. Dickens had his own demons, to say the least, and I doubt anyone could live up to his energy, ambition, and drive for success. Living a normal, quiet life would never measure up. What's truly amazing to me is that despite all of Dickens' expectations, expressions of disappointment, and even cruelty, his children still seemed to idolize him. (I'm concurrently reading Mamie Dickens' My Father as I Recall Him which, so far, is nothing but a love letter to the man who seemingly made all other men pale in comparison.) Charles Dickens must have truly been larger than life. Either that, or the mesmerism he practiced was used on his family members!
At any rate, this review is not of Dickens and his family, but of Gottlieb's book. For me, it was just right - the perfect length to cover the topic, without being so long and detailed that it became a chore. I left the table feeling comfortably sated, but not overwhelmed.
Recently, the Dickens Fellowship (started by son Henry), in honor of Dickens' 150th birthday, celebrated by having several of Dickens' descendants (many of whom are involved in the Fellowship) read passages from his stories, which I've enjoyed watching. Many of Dickens' children, especially when their debts started piling up, were pulled back into the orbit of their father's fame and wrote memoirs, did readings from his books, etc. in order to make a living. Were they reluctant to exploit their relationship, or did they see it as a way to pay their respects and keep his legacy alive? Perhaps a bit of both. Either way, world-wide fame and adoration is a family business and, it would seem, there's no escape.
I really found this book fascinating. That's not to say that it gave me a greater appreciation for Charles Dickens - if anything, I found him even more repellent, sadly. His children felt pressure to excel not only from outside forces, but from their famous father, as well. Dickens had his own demons, to say the least, and I doubt anyone could live up to his energy, ambition, and drive for success. Living a normal, quiet life would never measure up. What's truly amazing to me is that despite all of Dickens' expectations, expressions of disappointment, and even cruelty, his children still seemed to idolize him. (I'm concurrently reading Mamie Dickens' My Father as I Recall Him which, so far, is nothing but a love letter to the man who seemingly made all other men pale in comparison.) Charles Dickens must have truly been larger than life. Either that, or the mesmerism he practiced was used on his family members!
At any rate, this review is not of Dickens and his family, but of Gottlieb's book. For me, it was just right - the perfect length to cover the topic, without being so long and detailed that it became a chore. I left the table feeling comfortably sated, but not overwhelmed.
Recently, the Dickens Fellowship (started by son Henry), in honor of Dickens' 150th birthday, celebrated by having several of Dickens' descendants (many of whom are involved in the Fellowship) read passages from his stories, which I've enjoyed watching. Many of Dickens' children, especially when their debts started piling up, were pulled back into the orbit of their father's fame and wrote memoirs, did readings from his books, etc. in order to make a living. Were they reluctant to exploit their relationship, or did they see it as a way to pay their respects and keep his legacy alive? Perhaps a bit of both. Either way, world-wide fame and adoration is a family business and, it would seem, there's no escape.
March 18, 2013
Every time a new book about Dickens comes out, I have to read it. I was not at all disappointed in my latest find. It was marvelously detailed. You have to come away thinking that Dicken's messed up personal life and autocratic parenting style had more to do with the children being a trifle unorganized in their own lives.
I thought the author was a bit overly gentle with his criticism on that point, but then, I tend to be very sympathetic to the estranged wife, Catherine. Though I still adore the novels of Dickens, (There are only 2 or 3 that I have yet to read.) I just can't see him as a really decent human being.
I felt extremely sorry for the children growing up in this household, but, oh, I loved this book.
I thought the author was a bit overly gentle with his criticism on that point, but then, I tend to be very sympathetic to the estranged wife, Catherine. Though I still adore the novels of Dickens, (There are only 2 or 3 that I have yet to read.) I just can't see him as a really decent human being.
I felt extremely sorry for the children growing up in this household, but, oh, I loved this book.
January 8, 2014
I'm torn by my opinion of this book. It was informative and, for the most part, well written (there were a few parts that seemed jumbled and confusing). However, he seemed to be rehashing information I already knew. Of course, this may be because back in 2008 I spent a few nights researching the Dickens children, which I understand is probably not something the majority of people will have done. Still, I have a hard time determining if my absent-mindedness while reading was due to poor writing or boredom caused by previous knowledge. I'm going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and say it was my fault. And even with my previous knowledge, he did have some information I was unaware of and some that I only knew partially. The best example I can give is that I knew Dickens had a daughter named Dora who died, and I, of course, knew about the character Dora, who he killed off. What I didn't know was that while he was planning the death of Dora, his daughter was born and named. It's interesting to contemplate why he would name his daughter after a character that he planned to kill, and the cruel fate that the daughter died, especially since Forster believed he named her Dora to keep alive the memory of one of his favorite characters. (Dora is based upon his memory of his first love, but that is neither here nor there. What's even farther from here or there is that the character Flora from Little Dorrit is based upon the same woman, though after he had met her again and became disillusioned towards her) So I'll basically call this a refresher if you're already well-researched into Dickens. If not, it is an interesting glimpse into not only the great man himself but into his effect upon his children.
That being said, whether the flaws I felt were caused by myself or the author, I thought the book was well researched, giving me plenty of other books to look into, though my favorite source were the letters. I have read several of Dickens letters online--I believe Project Gutenberg has them available--and I found them to be an endless source of entertainment. They give an insight to the man that fully attained by reading his novels.
The structure of the book left something to be desired though. While I understand why he chose to break it up the way he did, I felt it could leave some readers flipping back just to keep up. The first half of the book covers each individual child until their father's death, while the second half covers their lives after his death. What I might recommend, so as not to get confused, is to read both sections of the individual child, but, of course, it really depends on how focused the reader is. I read this while reading another book, and even with my previous research, I confused a couple of the Dickens children (only the boys, really).
That being said, whether the flaws I felt were caused by myself or the author, I thought the book was well researched, giving me plenty of other books to look into, though my favorite source were the letters. I have read several of Dickens letters online--I believe Project Gutenberg has them available--and I found them to be an endless source of entertainment. They give an insight to the man that fully attained by reading his novels.
The structure of the book left something to be desired though. While I understand why he chose to break it up the way he did, I felt it could leave some readers flipping back just to keep up. The first half of the book covers each individual child until their father's death, while the second half covers their lives after his death. What I might recommend, so as not to get confused, is to read both sections of the individual child, but, of course, it really depends on how focused the reader is. I read this while reading another book, and even with my previous research, I confused a couple of the Dickens children (only the boys, really).
March 25, 2013
Mildly interesting account of Charles Dickens' several dozen (it seemed) children, most of whom disappointed him deeply. I was delighted to learn that one son was dubbed "Plorn" as a child and it stuck with him all his life. I now want to adopt a son just so I can name him Plorn.
January 11, 2013
Kate was the author's favorite child and I liked her a lot but I really enjoyed Henry. He was my fave. It's hard to understand how Dickens could be such a wonderful father but such a horrible husband. It's difficult not to feel resentment toward him as you watched that poor woman do excatly what was asked and bear him all those children, only to have him turn his back on her.
I really wanted to know more about Georgianna. Did she stay close to her sister? Did they get along? How did that whole relationship work out? The kids almost seemed to do better as adults once Dickens was gone, but that would really tick him off to hear it.
Here is why I liked Henry so much: page 208
If your wife was institutionalized and insane you were just out of luck. Henry is seeing a prisoner who has remarried another woman for the sake of his children and Henry is passing sentence.
"Prisoner at the Bar, you have broken the law; but you have done no injury to any mortal person on this earth. Your poor wife has long since been dead to the world; dead to you. Yet the law in its wisdom compels you to carry the burden of having this poor creature as a wife, so long as you and she remain alive....You went through this form of marriage (2nd wife) in order to make the lives of your two girls easier and happier, and for no other reason. As a judge, I have to condemn you; as a man, I cannot bring myself to do so. You have my sympathy...You will be imprisoned for one day, which means that you will be at once discharged."
Isn't that such a great example of mercy?
Another funny thing he did.
He was sentencing a hardened criminal who becomes a bit cheeky with Henry and tells Henry, "you ain't a patch on your father." Henry agrees with him and asks how he knows him. The criminal admits he has been reading a few novels in prison. Henry says, "that's capital; for you will now have eighteen months in which to resume your studies."
I really wanted to know more about Georgianna. Did she stay close to her sister? Did they get along? How did that whole relationship work out? The kids almost seemed to do better as adults once Dickens was gone, but that would really tick him off to hear it.
Here is why I liked Henry so much: page 208
If your wife was institutionalized and insane you were just out of luck. Henry is seeing a prisoner who has remarried another woman for the sake of his children and Henry is passing sentence.
"Prisoner at the Bar, you have broken the law; but you have done no injury to any mortal person on this earth. Your poor wife has long since been dead to the world; dead to you. Yet the law in its wisdom compels you to carry the burden of having this poor creature as a wife, so long as you and she remain alive....You went through this form of marriage (2nd wife) in order to make the lives of your two girls easier and happier, and for no other reason. As a judge, I have to condemn you; as a man, I cannot bring myself to do so. You have my sympathy...You will be imprisoned for one day, which means that you will be at once discharged."
Isn't that such a great example of mercy?
Another funny thing he did.
He was sentencing a hardened criminal who becomes a bit cheeky with Henry and tells Henry, "you ain't a patch on your father." Henry agrees with him and asks how he knows him. The criminal admits he has been reading a few novels in prison. Henry says, "that's capital; for you will now have eighteen months in which to resume your studies."
January 1, 2013
Although much is known about Charles Dickens, His very public breakup with Catherine, the mother of his 9 children, his mistreatment of her, I have never read very much about the children. Gottlieb adroitly tackles the fate of the Dickens children, how they fared after the breakup of their parents marriage and what became of them after Dicken's early death.. Dickens was by all accounts a magical parent, entered into his children's games, was very involved in their lives and schooling, but he had another side that was very strict, rules must be followed or their were dire consequences. Very well written and informative book chronicling the lives and mishaps of these children. Henry, turned out to be the most level headed and successful of the boys. My only criticism of this book, is that especially in the beginning, tended to be a bit repetitive. I did enjoy reading this book and once again I have divided feelings about Charles Dickens, the man, the husband and the father. How much does genius and fame excuse?
April 30, 2021
I really liked this book and read it voraciously - a sign of a successful enterprise. Gottlieb is not particularly profound - does not have any great insights into families, into 19th Century British society, into the economic and cultural paraments of family life. But the subject matter here is intrinsically interesting, and the author doesn't get in the way of the story.
It's not easy being the child of a "great." Two of Charles Dickens's ten offspring did well - daughter Kate became a successful artist, and son Henry a prominent attorney and then judge. The other children? Not so much. I was fascinated to read that 2 of Dickens' seven sons died and are buried in the USA. One in New York City, on the upper west side, and the other in Moline Illinois! That's an interesting story!
Like other reviewers, I'm irritated at the lack of any citation system for the book. No notes, and not even chapter-by-chapter "further reading" suggestions. And there's not even an index!!! Really? Come on, Farrar Straus Giroux - I expect more of you!!
It's not easy being the child of a "great." Two of Charles Dickens's ten offspring did well - daughter Kate became a successful artist, and son Henry a prominent attorney and then judge. The other children? Not so much. I was fascinated to read that 2 of Dickens' seven sons died and are buried in the USA. One in New York City, on the upper west side, and the other in Moline Illinois! That's an interesting story!
Like other reviewers, I'm irritated at the lack of any citation system for the book. No notes, and not even chapter-by-chapter "further reading" suggestions. And there's not even an index!!! Really? Come on, Farrar Straus Giroux - I expect more of you!!
March 27, 2020
Charles Dickens had 10 children (11 if we want to believe he and his mistress Ellen Ternan had one together) and as they were born he was thrilled with each of them. But, devoted father that he was and his children all bore that out when they spoke or wrote of him, his interest in them paled as they grew older. This was so particularly when they were about to make their own way in the world, and he was a master at setting out their careers for them so that they could earn their own living and not be dependant on him!
Of the seven boys, Henry was undoubtedly the most successful, ending up as Sir Henry, but the others had a mixed life once they left home. Dickens encouraged them, nay, sent them, abroad to make their way in life. This meant that they were not directly relying on him for money and a living; having said that he was not averse to sending money overseas to help them out when they encountered difficulties, be those difficulties through business ventures, gambling or even drinking.
He seemed to be closer to the two girls that survived, Dora, the ninth child, died before she was one, probably because they lived at home with him for most of the time. Of course, home was managed by his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth, who was a tower of strength to him even before he and his wife Catherine split up. And that break up was acrimonious and caused a rift within the children. Charley, the eldest child, chose to stay with his mother while the others who were still at home moved with their father. However, all the children continued to be friendly with both parents.
Each of the lives of the children has its own fascination be they in Australia, America, India, Canada or (occasionally) in England and Dickens' relationship with each of them is equally fascinating. Their lives are analysed in two parts, prior to Dickens' death in 1870 and then thereafter. The thereafter is interesting in that there were squabbles about each one's inheritance and there was a very awkward family fall out when Charley put in a late bid for Gad's Hill when it appeared as though it would not sell and would remain in the family. As John Forster, Dickens' great friend and first biographer wrote in a letter to Thomas Carlyle 'he was bidding only against the auctioneer representing us - and had the whole knocked down to him at the next bidding above the reserve price'. This caused a right family rumpus, particularly when he sold off the chalet that Dickens used to write his novels in!
The possible eleventh child with Ellen Ternan earns a chapter of its own and it is interesting to see how opinions between Dickens' scholars varies on this issue. And there is a chapter on 'Dickens's Other Children', that is those from the pages of his books. In this category the author states, 'Little Nell of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' - the most famous child in nineteenth-century fiction', then adding '... except for Alice In Wonderland'!
It is an excellent read and not only does it give a unique window on Victorian England but it adds greatly to the the portrait of Dickens as a father and as a man.
Of the seven boys, Henry was undoubtedly the most successful, ending up as Sir Henry, but the others had a mixed life once they left home. Dickens encouraged them, nay, sent them, abroad to make their way in life. This meant that they were not directly relying on him for money and a living; having said that he was not averse to sending money overseas to help them out when they encountered difficulties, be those difficulties through business ventures, gambling or even drinking.
He seemed to be closer to the two girls that survived, Dora, the ninth child, died before she was one, probably because they lived at home with him for most of the time. Of course, home was managed by his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth, who was a tower of strength to him even before he and his wife Catherine split up. And that break up was acrimonious and caused a rift within the children. Charley, the eldest child, chose to stay with his mother while the others who were still at home moved with their father. However, all the children continued to be friendly with both parents.
Each of the lives of the children has its own fascination be they in Australia, America, India, Canada or (occasionally) in England and Dickens' relationship with each of them is equally fascinating. Their lives are analysed in two parts, prior to Dickens' death in 1870 and then thereafter. The thereafter is interesting in that there were squabbles about each one's inheritance and there was a very awkward family fall out when Charley put in a late bid for Gad's Hill when it appeared as though it would not sell and would remain in the family. As John Forster, Dickens' great friend and first biographer wrote in a letter to Thomas Carlyle 'he was bidding only against the auctioneer representing us - and had the whole knocked down to him at the next bidding above the reserve price'. This caused a right family rumpus, particularly when he sold off the chalet that Dickens used to write his novels in!
The possible eleventh child with Ellen Ternan earns a chapter of its own and it is interesting to see how opinions between Dickens' scholars varies on this issue. And there is a chapter on 'Dickens's Other Children', that is those from the pages of his books. In this category the author states, 'Little Nell of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' - the most famous child in nineteenth-century fiction', then adding '... except for Alice In Wonderland'!
It is an excellent read and not only does it give a unique window on Victorian England but it adds greatly to the the portrait of Dickens as a father and as a man.
March 20, 2017
Charles Dickens- ambitious, energetic, hard-working, feisty, opinionated, stubborn, and best-known man in the English-speaking world when he died. Everyone knows Dickens and his brilliant novels.
He was an extremely loving father to his ten children (nine lived to adulthood) and simply tons of playful fun, but alas, “mid-life rage and frustration” hit him at age forty-five. He fell deeply in love with a 18-year-old actress and decided to ‘put away’ the wife who had borne him these 10 children (and suffered two miscarriages) and who was decidedly worn out- I mean, literally he moved her OUT of her house into another home- and what’s more, he took the children away from her and insisted they continue living with him and their caretaker aunt. They were allowed to see her only occasionally and grudgingly and he slandered her privately and publicly by saying she was an unloving mother and the children didn’t love her. Both false. The youngest of these poor confused children was only 6 at the time and did not understand what was happening. The older ones did- and the oldest son, Charley, (age 20) decided it was his duty to live with his mother and his father reluctantly accepted this decision. Anyone in Dickens' circle of acquaintances and friends who questioned the decency of this behavior was banished from Dickens' friendship forever. He died twelve years later and in those remaining years he communicated with his wife only three times. He did not divorce her or remarry- that would have been far too great a scandal and it was scandal enough that he separated from her. Evidence exists to suggest Dickens had a child by his lover but this child died in infancy.
In my estimation, this is definitely a black mark against the character of Dickens and inexcusable. He evidently was a man of great sexual need and the weary, worn-out mother of his ten children no longer fit the bill. However, he was a concerned diligent father in that he went to tremendous effort to launch each of his children into a career, especially his sons, almost to the point where he seemed to be pushing them out of the nest. It is to his immense credit that all of his children always loved him deeply and never criticized him.
His oldest son worked in publishing, two sons were placed in Australia on sheep stations, one daughter was a portrait artist and the oldest daughter never married. One son went to sea and one became a lawyer and eventually a judge, and one was sent to the colony of India. They had various levels of success. Dickens criticized his wife for her “lethargy and indolence” and blamed her when he felt that some of his sons demonstrated a “want of application”. It disappointed him that they did not demonstrate the same level of driving ambition that he had- it was extremely difficult for them to meet his expectations.
Very interesting book.
He was an extremely loving father to his ten children (nine lived to adulthood) and simply tons of playful fun, but alas, “mid-life rage and frustration” hit him at age forty-five. He fell deeply in love with a 18-year-old actress and decided to ‘put away’ the wife who had borne him these 10 children (and suffered two miscarriages) and who was decidedly worn out- I mean, literally he moved her OUT of her house into another home- and what’s more, he took the children away from her and insisted they continue living with him and their caretaker aunt. They were allowed to see her only occasionally and grudgingly and he slandered her privately and publicly by saying she was an unloving mother and the children didn’t love her. Both false. The youngest of these poor confused children was only 6 at the time and did not understand what was happening. The older ones did- and the oldest son, Charley, (age 20) decided it was his duty to live with his mother and his father reluctantly accepted this decision. Anyone in Dickens' circle of acquaintances and friends who questioned the decency of this behavior was banished from Dickens' friendship forever. He died twelve years later and in those remaining years he communicated with his wife only three times. He did not divorce her or remarry- that would have been far too great a scandal and it was scandal enough that he separated from her. Evidence exists to suggest Dickens had a child by his lover but this child died in infancy.
In my estimation, this is definitely a black mark against the character of Dickens and inexcusable. He evidently was a man of great sexual need and the weary, worn-out mother of his ten children no longer fit the bill. However, he was a concerned diligent father in that he went to tremendous effort to launch each of his children into a career, especially his sons, almost to the point where he seemed to be pushing them out of the nest. It is to his immense credit that all of his children always loved him deeply and never criticized him.
His oldest son worked in publishing, two sons were placed in Australia on sheep stations, one daughter was a portrait artist and the oldest daughter never married. One son went to sea and one became a lawyer and eventually a judge, and one was sent to the colony of India. They had various levels of success. Dickens criticized his wife for her “lethargy and indolence” and blamed her when he felt that some of his sons demonstrated a “want of application”. It disappointed him that they did not demonstrate the same level of driving ambition that he had- it was extremely difficult for them to meet his expectations.
Very interesting book.
February 27, 2017
What a delightful, unexpected surprisingly excellent book. I learned not only about Dickens and his poor wife. But so much about the life of artists in the early 1800s and peeked at correspondence with George Bernard Shaw. And Australian imigrants, and many very stimulating insights. I must find more work by Mr. Gottleib.
February 4, 2013
This is a readable and interesting book about Charles Dickens' children lives. I enjoyed it, learned a lot and am now interested in reading more about Dickens himself. The book touches on Dickens relationships with women, but mostly as it pertains to his children and his relationship with his children. The author gives an objective evaluation of Dickens as a Dad.
The book is divided into two main sections: Life while Dickens was alive and life after his death. Each of these sections contains a chapter about each child. The book is fact-based with very little conjecture, and there is a LOT one might conjecture about. It is interesting to see how his childrens' lives were lived, however they always seem to be only in comparison to Dickens himself. I think I might have liked a bit more background on Dickens' and Catherines' family to put the children's' lives into perspective. Gottlieb mentions addiction in Dickens family of origin, but only near the end of the book and without any references. Mamie's alcoholism might be explained by that, but not why she never married. Gottlieb also notes that many of the boys lived beyond their means, but I wasn't sure if they were living in the style they were raised in (but could no longer afford once on their own).
The chapter on Plorn is heartbreaking and Gottlieb does provide some reasons why Dickens may have sent this son to Australia. In particular, he notes that Dickens was a wonderful father with children, but detached rather dramatically, as the children began to enter adulthood. I was left curious about how this may/may not have been influenced by Dickens own childhood. I also was left wondering whether that might be the way Dickens maintained control. If his children still adored him when they were still at an age where they adored him , then he didn't have to live through them discovering he was just human too.
See http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...
The book is divided into two main sections: Life while Dickens was alive and life after his death. Each of these sections contains a chapter about each child. The book is fact-based with very little conjecture, and there is a LOT one might conjecture about. It is interesting to see how his childrens' lives were lived, however they always seem to be only in comparison to Dickens himself. I think I might have liked a bit more background on Dickens' and Catherines' family to put the children's' lives into perspective. Gottlieb mentions addiction in Dickens family of origin, but only near the end of the book and without any references. Mamie's alcoholism might be explained by that, but not why she never married. Gottlieb also notes that many of the boys lived beyond their means, but I wasn't sure if they were living in the style they were raised in (but could no longer afford once on their own).
The chapter on Plorn is heartbreaking and Gottlieb does provide some reasons why Dickens may have sent this son to Australia. In particular, he notes that Dickens was a wonderful father with children, but detached rather dramatically, as the children began to enter adulthood. I was left curious about how this may/may not have been influenced by Dickens own childhood. I also was left wondering whether that might be the way Dickens maintained control. If his children still adored him when they were still at an age where they adored him , then he didn't have to live through them discovering he was just human too.
See http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...
January 6, 2013
A good read, and a quick read, about Dickens and his family. I tend to enjoy biographies that are about more than one person, and this certainly fit the bill (though I found myself thinking about reading a biography of Katey Dickens, Dickens's third and favorite child, as she turned out to be a really interesting person, a painter herself and friends with many artists and writers).
I read this expecting all kinds of dirt on Dickens. I've never read a full biography of him, but being a Victorian scholar I knew the stories you always hear about him--his stint in the blacking factory as a child, his infatuation with his sister-in-law Mary, his abominable treatment of his wife after 22 years of marriage (I mean, separation is one thing, but do you need to publicly denounce and humiliate her?), his probable affair with Ellen Ternan, etc. I was glad to read something new about his life and family. But to be honest, he seemed like he was a pretty good father in a lot of ways. I mean, yes, he was exacting and withheld his approval on many occasions. But it seems to me that many of his actions came from being both a self-made man and a "first generation" success, if you will. He came from a family in which most people seemed only to be distinguished by how much money they could lose. He wanted his children to make their own way in the world, the way he had. But then again, how could they, really, since they would always be known as the sons and daughters of one of the most famous men in the world.
The weirdest, most Dickensian part was the chapter on his daughter Dora (named after David Copperfield's Dora), who died at 8 months. I will say no more; the way Gottlieb tells it is good and creepy.
I would agree with another reviewer that some of the "20th century psychologizing" was a little annoying, and Gottlieb was a little repetitive at times, but overall, this was a good read.
I read this expecting all kinds of dirt on Dickens. I've never read a full biography of him, but being a Victorian scholar I knew the stories you always hear about him--his stint in the blacking factory as a child, his infatuation with his sister-in-law Mary, his abominable treatment of his wife after 22 years of marriage (I mean, separation is one thing, but do you need to publicly denounce and humiliate her?), his probable affair with Ellen Ternan, etc. I was glad to read something new about his life and family. But to be honest, he seemed like he was a pretty good father in a lot of ways. I mean, yes, he was exacting and withheld his approval on many occasions. But it seems to me that many of his actions came from being both a self-made man and a "first generation" success, if you will. He came from a family in which most people seemed only to be distinguished by how much money they could lose. He wanted his children to make their own way in the world, the way he had. But then again, how could they, really, since they would always be known as the sons and daughters of one of the most famous men in the world.
The weirdest, most Dickensian part was the chapter on his daughter Dora (named after David Copperfield's Dora), who died at 8 months. I will say no more; the way Gottlieb tells it is good and creepy.
I would agree with another reviewer that some of the "20th century psychologizing" was a little annoying, and Gottlieb was a little repetitive at times, but overall, this was a good read.
September 12, 2013
What I liked about it: I like a good take-down piece just as much as anyone else, and Dickens had much to be taken down. His main disappointment with his sons appears to be the thing that caused his own father's downfall and his resultant work in a boot-blacking factory: poor money management. Once sent away, they and their creditors wrote him constantly, asking for more money to pay gambling debts, or for the 25 pairs of kid-leather gloves they desperately needed. One is sent off to India with the military, returns to England after seven years, squanders his inheritance, and dies ignobly in Canada after a failed career in the Northwest Mounted Police. The youngest and perhaps most fragile son, Plorn, is sent off to Australia at just 16 and refuses to help pay to re-purchase the garden house his father wrote most of his works in after another son has to auction it off when he can't pay for the upkeep. One of the daughters can't get past being Miss Dickens and ends up living with a minister and his wife and possibly dies an alcoholic. Several others die young of one of the many diseases that took people in the days before food and water were safe and antibiotics had been discovered. Only three children can be said to be real successes: Katie, who was a moderately successful painter with a wide social network, Charley, who was eventually allowed to take over his father's literary magazine, and Henry, who was sent to Cambridge and became a judge.
What I didn't like about it: I can't really fault the author for this, as he certainly seems to have done his research, but there are very few details, especially about the less successful kids. For example, it's never clear if the constant begging letters are a result of gambling or of extravagant purchases. Nor is it clear what the situation was with the wayward daughter. But that is mostly a result of Victorian morals: nobody wanted to say it out loud.
omnibrowbooks.blogspot.com
What I didn't like about it: I can't really fault the author for this, as he certainly seems to have done his research, but there are very few details, especially about the less successful kids. For example, it's never clear if the constant begging letters are a result of gambling or of extravagant purchases. Nor is it clear what the situation was with the wayward daughter. But that is mostly a result of Victorian morals: nobody wanted to say it out loud.
omnibrowbooks.blogspot.com
February 2, 2016
If you had a father as famous and as domineering as Charles Dickens was in his time, you wouldn't be able to help but turn out a little odd.
Robert Gottlieb's Great Expectations describes what it was like to grow up with Charles Dickens as a father. The literary icon's ten sons and daughters worshipped him, and he was a doting father to them when they were little. When they got older, however, he didn't know what to do with them, and his affection gave way to disappointment. Dickens particularly disapproved of his sons because, having grown up in luxury rather than in the poor house like their father did, they lacked his ambition and drive. He couldn't wait to ship the boys off to far-flung parts of the world as soon as they were old enough to leave the family home. For example, Dickens's fifth son, Frank, died in Moline, Illinois after lackluster stints in the Bengal and Canadian Mounted Police. His father wrote of him, "A good steady fellow, but not at all brilliant'" (p. 89).
Some of Dickens's children lived to old ages; others died young, but all who survived infancy (except for Henry, who became a successful jurist) were plagued by financial problems. The boys tended to gamble, live extravagantly and/or make unwise investments, and the girls suffered due to the lack of opportunities for women of their era.
As Dickens' daughter Katey wrote in a letter to George Bernard Shaw: "If you could make the public understand that my father was not a joyous, jocund gentleman walking around the world with a plum pudding and a bowl of punch, you would greatly oblige me." (p. 171). Gottlieb succeeds in doing this as well. (Amy B.)
Robert Gottlieb's Great Expectations describes what it was like to grow up with Charles Dickens as a father. The literary icon's ten sons and daughters worshipped him, and he was a doting father to them when they were little. When they got older, however, he didn't know what to do with them, and his affection gave way to disappointment. Dickens particularly disapproved of his sons because, having grown up in luxury rather than in the poor house like their father did, they lacked his ambition and drive. He couldn't wait to ship the boys off to far-flung parts of the world as soon as they were old enough to leave the family home. For example, Dickens's fifth son, Frank, died in Moline, Illinois after lackluster stints in the Bengal and Canadian Mounted Police. His father wrote of him, "A good steady fellow, but not at all brilliant'" (p. 89).
Some of Dickens's children lived to old ages; others died young, but all who survived infancy (except for Henry, who became a successful jurist) were plagued by financial problems. The boys tended to gamble, live extravagantly and/or make unwise investments, and the girls suffered due to the lack of opportunities for women of their era.
As Dickens' daughter Katey wrote in a letter to George Bernard Shaw: "If you could make the public understand that my father was not a joyous, jocund gentleman walking around the world with a plum pudding and a bowl of punch, you would greatly oblige me." (p. 171). Gottlieb succeeds in doing this as well. (Amy B.)
March 9, 2014
Charles Dickens had all my admiration,now when reading through this book I discover the man, himself Charles Dickents. Does it mean that the man is different from the writer, or is it my imagination that modeled the man ?
Some of the truth about his private life, one can call "strange behaviour" like expelling his wife from the house and "cast into darkness" I found horrible and not worthy of any man.
The discussion is opened.
Some of the truth about his private life, one can call "strange behaviour" like expelling his wife from the house and "cast into darkness" I found horrible and not worthy of any man.
The discussion is opened.
January 15, 2013
Interesting tidbits about the Dickens children, but not much depth.
February 3, 2013
Most historians go on and on and on--well, you get the idea. I found this downright terse. Good information but not much of a writing style.
February 2, 2022
Was that depressing, or what?
This book was pretty interesting and pretty well-written. But I almost always come away from reading a biography knowing more about the person (or people) than when I started and liking them less.
Dickens' major flaw, major indeed, was the way that he treated his wife. Worse, even, than Arthur Conan Doyle. But this book was mostly about Dickens' children, one chapter each, divided into sections before and after his death.
It sounds like Dickens loved all of his children when they were small and all of them thought the world of him. But, when his children got older, he had entirely different standards for his sons and daughters. He expected his daughters to dress respectably and perhaps learn to play a musical instrument or do watercolors and that they would be dependent and subservient to him until they married or died. On the other hand, he expected his sons to do exceptionally well in school, start working hard at 14 to support themselves, and to be wildly successful at the career that he chose for them, all the while saddled with the name Dickens. Meanwhile, his sons apparently got little or nothing from Dickens, by nature or nurture, to prepare them to meet his expectations. Well, it's no wonder he was mostly happy with his daughters and disappointed with his sons.
For example, Dickens' fifth child, third son, Frank
I was amused to find that Dickens' oldest son, Charley, sounds exactly like Scrooge's description of his nephew in A Christmas Carol. He had a happy marriage, was improvident with money and had daughters he wasn't really able to provide for.
This book was pretty interesting and pretty well-written. But I almost always come away from reading a biography knowing more about the person (or people) than when I started and liking them less.
Dickens' major flaw, major indeed, was the way that he treated his wife. Worse, even, than Arthur Conan Doyle. But this book was mostly about Dickens' children, one chapter each, divided into sections before and after his death.
It sounds like Dickens loved all of his children when they were small and all of them thought the world of him. But, when his children got older, he had entirely different standards for his sons and daughters. He expected his daughters to dress respectably and perhaps learn to play a musical instrument or do watercolors and that they would be dependent and subservient to him until they married or died. On the other hand, he expected his sons to do exceptionally well in school, start working hard at 14 to support themselves, and to be wildly successful at the career that he chose for them, all the while saddled with the name Dickens. Meanwhile, his sons apparently got little or nothing from Dickens, by nature or nurture, to prepare them to meet his expectations. Well, it's no wonder he was mostly happy with his daughters and disappointed with his sons.
For example, Dickens' fifth child, third son, Frank
I was amused to find that Dickens' oldest son, Charley, sounds exactly like Scrooge's description of his nephew in A Christmas Carol. He had a happy marriage, was improvident with money and had daughters he wasn't really able to provide for.
January 30, 2022
Gottlieb mentioned in an interview that this was his favorite of the many books he has written so I thought I would find out why. Dickens had ten children, 7 boys and 3 girls. The lives of the children of exceptional people are usually fascinating --the Roosevelts and Churchills, for example. What is it like to be the child of a star? How can one ever hope to achieve anything close to what the parent has? Only two of Dickens' children achieved the sort of success their father would have approved of -- Kate and Henry. Many of them suffered from what might have been inherited weaknesses -- drink, gambling, poor health, lack of business sense. Quite a few died too young. And, then there is the matter of what Dickens did to his wife Catherine. When the children were still very young, he banished her. Amazingly, her sister, Georgina, stayed with Dickens and helped raise the children who were befuddled by what had occurred. But the Dickens household was full of rollicking fun for young children and his children loved him forever because of this. However, in terms of helping his children (particularly the boys) achieve adulthood, Dickens was lacking. He was overly critical and impatient. He felt they lacked the discipline and rigor that he had demonstrated to make his way in the world and he pushed them out of the nest--to India, Australia, to the sea--when they were so young and fragile. The book also makes it clear how hard it was for a girl to make her way in the world unless she married well or inherited wealth. Kate does have a successful life as an artist in her own right and she earned a glowing obituary from the London Times: "She won the hearts of all who knew her."
October 5, 2021
Absolutely fascinating! And horrible too in that he was a great father to the girls always and to the boys, when they were little, and then he was so heartlessly ignorant that my mouth dropped open. He had NO idea how to help a boy grow to man and have time to discover themselves. He pushes them ruthlessly into business or farming, sending them to Australia and India as boys of fifteen or sixteen. Only one got to go to university and find out who he was, and he alone was not terribly lost. I am always fascinated by Dickens, how brilliant he was, how he pushed himself into more and more books and causes and readings and then was so horrific to his long-suffering wife who bore ten children and then was brutally shoved aside for a virginal 18-year-old while he defamed his wife's name to the world. He exhausts me and fascinates me. He destroyed himself before everyone's eyes, as relentless with his own energy as he was in his expectations of others. Great expectations indeed!
February 13, 2022
2.5
I tag read this one with Adam Kay's superb 'This is going to hurt'. I'm normally a one book at a time monoamist but the duel reading really worked for me. I'll continue.
This book didn't fly for me. I thought it was an interesting concept but the characters of Dickens' offspring stayed very much 2D. I think the format was one of the issues - a chapter to each child before and then after Dickens' death. Although that may have been easier to write and research, it's not how family life works and created a fractured view of them as a group. It may also relate to Dickens' questionable parenting technique of shipping his sons offshore and the constant judging of their lives which even extended unto their health with little consideration of health care and knowledge of the time.
Still an interesting glimpse into Victorian society. I may read more about Kate.
I tag read this one with Adam Kay's superb 'This is going to hurt'. I'm normally a one book at a time monoamist but the duel reading really worked for me. I'll continue.
This book didn't fly for me. I thought it was an interesting concept but the characters of Dickens' offspring stayed very much 2D. I think the format was one of the issues - a chapter to each child before and then after Dickens' death. Although that may have been easier to write and research, it's not how family life works and created a fractured view of them as a group. It may also relate to Dickens' questionable parenting technique of shipping his sons offshore and the constant judging of their lives which even extended unto their health with little consideration of health care and knowledge of the time.
Still an interesting glimpse into Victorian society. I may read more about Kate.
February 10, 2024
Very interesting to read about Charles Dickens's children, and there were many! Well-written and considered by well-known editor and author Robert Gottlieb. A bit frustrating, because there was no index (shame on an editor!), and it was awkwardly divided into two parts. He went through all ten children before their father's death, and then started all over again, with ten more chapters, to show what happened after Dickens died. That did not work, because there were so many offspring, that by the time I got to each of their "after dad's death" chapters, I couldn't remember what I had read about them at the beginning of the book!? A mistake on Gottlieb's part. Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.
March 20, 2019
It seems like another case if children of famous parents not achieving the same success and getting out of their shadow,but this book does more than that by suggesting that Dickens lost interest in them once they hit the turbulent teenage years.he tried in vain to settle them into various careers with the exception of a couple failed either through their own lack of constraint with money or inherited I'll health.the book covers a child in each chapter in a before and after Charles Dickens death.when the children are younger Charles found more in common with them similar but not too similar to j.m Barrie and the lost boys.
February 9, 2020
Fans of Charles Dickens will find this elegant analysis of the relationship between Dickens and his children (and other relatives or relations including Ellen Ternan), and the effect of his great energy, charm, magnetism and expectations upon them of enormous interest. Not a child died but as the author's devoted follower, enthralled to his legacy and personality. Gottlieb is a sensitive researcher and writer; he kept my interest engaged throughout. I could not help but be relieved that I was not born a son to Charles Dickens. All the odds would have been against me. This book demonstrates how easy it is to feel compassion for strangers yet very little for those nearest in life.
June 21, 2017
First the good: I like how each chapter is dedicated to each child. The first half of the book is about the kids while dad is alive. Second half is about each child's life after dad's death. Major dislike: The first half of the book. It is more about how badly Charles felt about each child. This book felt more about Charles Dickens and how he viewed his children & wife Then about how the kids viewed their father, with a little bio of each child that did not have something to do with daddy.
July 25, 2018
Very enjoyable and informative little book. Dickens writes to his youngest son Edward (called Plorn), leaving for work in Australia: "But this life is half made up of partings, and these pains must be borne...Never take a mean advantage of anyone in any transaction, and never be hard upon people who are in your power. Try to do to others, as you would them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail you sometimes."
May 18, 2022
While I was intrigued by the premise of this book, following the lives of Charles Dickens 10 children, I was disappointed. There were some interesting facts about Charles relation ship with his wife (and his wife’s sisters), all the information about his children is from short letters and facts so it doesn’t at all capture how they felt and likely struggled with being the children of the famous author.
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