Reading the 20th Century discussion

Here's a thread to discuss Charles Dickens who is very popular amongst people who post here (despite not being a 20th century writer)



What are your favourite books by Charles Dickens?

Who are you favourite narrators of his audiobooks?

Any Dickens adaptations you particularly like?

And, given the time of year, as Tiny Tim said, "A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!"

Funnily enough I'm just discovering Charles Dickens. The only one I had read before was A Christmas Carol. I'd tried to read some of his other books before but was put off by the sheer size of them, but this year I started Bleak House and I'm really enjoying it.

I'm reading it, but also listening to two different audio versions of it. One is from Audible, narrated by Miriam Margolyes and she is very good. The other is a free version from Librivox and the narrator is Mil Nicholson. She is also excellent - it's a very professional recording.

I'm finding this a really good way of getting through such a big book (1000 pages). I will read two or three chapters, then listen to each of the recordings of that section over the next week or so. It's interesting to see how they each narrate it.

I have an Audible version of Bleak House, narrated by Sean Barrett (Slough House reader!) and Theresa Gallagher. It is still long, and rather daunting. The BBC TV version, with (among many others) Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance, sparked my interest in it.

Audible UK are offering some very cheap readings of Dickens (unabridged) for 46p. I can't speak for the quality: I've just bought Dombey & Son, and will listen to it over Christmas. But for 46p it's hard to go wrong.

Thanks Sue. I also have that Miriam Margolyes helmed narration of Bleak House to enjoy at some point next year. Can't wait.

Thanks Rosina - 46 pence does indeed sound like a complete bargain and, as you say, hard to go too far wrong at that price

Rosina wrote: "The BBC TV version, with (among many others) Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance, sparked my interest in it. ..."

For anyone in the UK, that BBC version is available on the iPlayer at the moment, along with Little Dorrit.

Bleak House is my favourite Dickens - I somehow missed the BBC version so thanks for pointing out that it's on iplayer.

With so many Dickens (and Victorian lit) fans here, maybe we should do a kind of side-read? - this group is great reading company!

There is a video by Peter Ackroyd of Dickens. Of course it isn't a full biography, such as Charles Dickens, which I have yet to read, but I thought the video was pretty good for more than just an overview. I also liked the novel Girl in a Blue Dress which is told by his wife, who he cast off.

I am by no means a Dickens completionist, but have read a fair amount. The unread novels are Sketches by Boz, The Pickwick Papers, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit and Little Dorrit. I think the Wikipedia bibliography is a good page for reference.

It's hard for me to pick a favorite of those I've read, because I think the ones I've read in the last 5 years or so are fresher in my mind.

Great to see so much love for Dickens here. I’m a bit of a mad completist and have read all the novels multiple times, also all 12 volumes of his letters, lots of short stories, etc.

But I have not read much recently, so I’m planning to go back to a couple of the novels next year, with Dombey and Son lined up next, plus some of the bits and pieces that have escaped me so far.

I also enjoy Dickens' novels - the ones I haven't yet read are Nicholas Nickleby, Martin Chuzzlewit and Barnaby Rudge. If I had to pick a favourite, I guess it would be Bleak House.

Judy wrote: "I have not read much recently, so I’m planning to go back to a couple of the novels next year, with Dombey and Son lined up next, plus some of the bits and pieces that have escaped me so far"

Susan is tempted by a buddy read and, whilst Dickens is not a 20th century writer, I think that would be fine. I suspect there would be quite a bit of enthusiasm.

I have read a few - Dombey and Son, Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist (the first I read), NIcholas Nickleby and David Copperfield. I have the Bleak House on Audible, which I think was an Audible Deal of the Day. I would like to read any of his novels, and am open to suggestions. I also have the biography Charles Dickens: A Life to read.

I re-read/listened to Bleak House fairly recently - so maybe one of his shorter books? A Tale of Two Cities?

It was the first Dickens I read after being taken to see the old Dirk Bogart film by our French teacher at school - me and my best friend had a crush on Sydney Carton after that!

We read quite a lot of Dickens at my school. A Tale of Two Cities Great Expectations Oliver Twist David Copperfield and probably more. I think it is the size/length of most of them that put people off

Jill wrote: "I think it is the size/length of most of them that put people off "

It's also the language/sentence structure. He is why so many people don't read 19th Century literature. I remember my first Wilkie Collins and wondered why schools don't have him rather than Dickens.

I am not a re-reader, but might be up for Tomalin's biography for a buddy read. It's long, but I think I can figure out how to read so as to be finished when others are finishing up and join in the discussion at the end rather than continously.

This is a short one that could be interesting. The Lazy Tour Of Two Idle Apprentices

So far, we have suggestions of:

Charles Dickens: A Life

A Tale of Two Cities

The Lazy Tour Of Two Idle Apprentices

Shall we do a mini vote?

Personally, I would like to read the biography and then, maybe, a novel, but I am happy to read any of the above.

We could if you like, but I would read any of them. Having said I'm not a re-reader, A Tale of Two Cities could be an exception. It has been more than 40 years since I read it, and with my more recent interest in the French Revolution, I wouldn't mind revisiting it.

I am happy to read A Tale of Two Cities. Anyone else keen?

Susan wrote: "I am happy to read A Tale of Two Cities. Anyone else keen?"

Possibly, I did enjoy it first time round but if it's Jan or Feb I probably won't be able to fit it in. When were you thinking of reading it?

Let's see if there is enough interest in reading a Dickens book first, Pamela, and then decide where to fit it in. Maybe March, if that works better?

If others want to, I would be happy to join in on A Tale of Two Cities - a shorter novel with lots to discuss.

Judy wrote: "If others want to, I would be happy to join in on A Tale of Two Cities - a shorter novel with lots to discuss."

It is his only historical novel, so there is that aspect as well.

I don't normally reread, but school was a long time ago so am willing to make an exception,

So, A Tale of Two Cities in March? Is that acceptable to everyone?

“[A Tale of Two Cities] has the best of Dickens and the worst of Dickens: a dark, driven opening, and a celestial but melodramatic ending; a terrifyingly demonic villainess and (even by Dickens’ standards) an impossibly angelic heroine. Though its version of the French Revolution is brutally simplified, its engagement with the immense moral themes of rebirth and terror, justice, and sacrifice gets right to the heart of the matter . . . For every reader in the past hundred and forty years and for hundreds to come, it is an unforgettable ride.”—Simon Schama

This is one of his later novels, if I remember correctly and only his second historical novel? Wasn't also a historical novel? I have read A Tale of Two Cities before, but not since I was at school; although I never read it in school, just at that age...

Susan wrote: "This is one of his later novels, if I remember correctly and only his second historical novel? Wasn't also a historical novel? I have read A Tale of Two Cities befor..."

You are correct about that being an historical novel - I had forgotten the setting for that one.

I haven't read it, Elizabeth. I am going to try to read his biography in the New Year, but I already have a pretty full reading list for Jan/Feb!

I have added the buddy read to my list. I would like also to read the Tomalin, but there is a whole year to think about it.

I think I may have the Tomalin. On second thought I have the Fred Kaplan. My Tomalin is Thomas Hardy. Both are unread.

There is a Boxing Day Audible sale today, which includes A Tale of Two Cities. All books under £3, so worth a browse anyway.

How exciting, that so many of us love Dickens and are keen to re/read Tale of Two Cities. I have read older biographies of Dickens but would be interested in the Tomalin which I assume might take a different view of his troubled and troubling relationships with women.

Roman Clodia wrote: "How exciting, that so many of us love Dickens and are keen to re/read Tale of Two Cities. I have read older biographies of Dickens but would be interested in the Tomalin which I assume might take a different view of his troubled and troubling relationships with women. "

I'm not sure it takes a different view than was the truth of him.

This is a review not unlike many.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I'm not sure it takes a different view than was the truth of him."

When I said 'older' I meant near contemporary biographies by friends and people who knew Dickens - and they did tend to cover over the things that Tomalin, from the review link you posted, rightly exposes.

I've got, but haven't yet read, Tomalin's The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens.

Ah, I see. You were referring to biographies that did *not* show him for who he was. And thanks for the Ternan story. I have marked it as wish list. (Can I have another lifetime, please, so I can get to all these?)

It is interesting to note that, for the most part, Dickens' characterizations were not very good, especially those of the women. That is primarily the reason I've stopped reading him and why I started reading Trollope instead, who does such a good job of characterization, especially those of women.

I do look forward to The Tale of Two Cities.

I read The Invisible Woman some time ago. I have never read a 'proper' biography of Dickens, from birth to death. I do intend to read the Tomalin, but, like Elizabeth says, it is finding the time. I have just listed all the reading group/review books I need to read by the end of February and it is somewhat daunting! However, I have the Tomalin on Audible, which I find easier to fit in. If you want to read it too, RC, I can set up a Buddy Read thread? I won't get to it for a couple of weeks at least, as I have just started a Val McDermid on Audible.

I've got a lot on, too, for the next couple of months (if only real life didn't get in the way of reading...) but maybe March for the Tomalin Dickens? Or April after Cities?

OK, let's see how we get on and maybe see if we fancy it after Cities.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "It is interesting to note that, for the most part, Dickens' characterizations were not very good, especially those of the women. That is primarily the reason I've stopped reading him and why I star..."

I was planning on posting exactly the same thing - both about poor characterisation in Dickens (especially the female romantic lead) and how much more depth there is in Trollope.

Having 'given' up with Dickens after ploughing through Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Tale of Two Cities at school, I have only now returned to try them, as audio books. But I still find his female characters are either cyphers without agency, or grotesques. His antagonists lack the humanity of - for example - Obadiah Slope, or Augustus Melmotte.

Yes, it's generally recognised that Dickens' women tend to be either 'angels of the house' (like Esther, Dora, Lucie Manette etc.) or villainesses whose moral flaws lead to their punishment or death (Lady Dedlock, Miss Haversham, the knitters round the guillotine). All the same Dickens has a poetic, imaginative way of articulating the world via metaphors, grotesques, figurative images, names, while Trollope is more realist in his writing. I enjoy them both - and Slope is a genius creation!

All this talk of Dickens has prompted me to decide to finally go to the Dickens museum - something I have meant to do for ages. I have booked the Housemaid's Tour next weekend and am looking forward to taking my children there.

https://dickensmuseum.com/?gclid=Cj0K...

That’s exciting, Susan - I’ve visited the museum several times but have never been on a special tour. Should be fascinating, let us know!

I will report back, Judy. I have never been there before - this year, I have decided that, as I do actually live in London, I should do some of the tourist things that Londoners never usually do!

Had a great day today - highly recommend the Housemaid's Tour at the Dickens Museum. The staff were lovely and made a great fuss of my daughter (she is 12, but she was, by far, the youngest member of the tour group), teasing her about being a scullery maid and allowing her to open the doors, etc. Then lunch in Chinatown and a quick visit to the Harry Potter range in Primark, so she certainly had a good time!

That sounds great, Susan - quite the packed day. :)

I've never been to that museum Susan but I'll look out for it next time we are up in London - it sounds good!

Yes, I have had a restful evening, to make up for it. Good fun, though, and I am glad that I have finally visited.

It was good, Sue. It is fairly near the British Museum, so you could combine the two very easily.

https://dickensmuseum.com/?gclid=CjwK...