Dickensians! discussion

Just as Charles Dickens fills his books with thinly disguised portraits of people he knew, he also used the places familiar to him,

Here is where we can share information about these.

For our group read of David Copperfield, the towns and cities he mentions are authentic, and sometimes even specific buildings which we may assume are from his imagination, do actually exist.

The infant David is born, and spends the first part of his life in a cottage named, portentously, "Blunderstone Rookery". Here it is:


Blunderstone Rookery in real life

Two important characters in David Copperfield are the solicitor Mr Wickfield, and his daughter Agnes. David lives with them for a while, in Canterbury. There is a detailed description of this old gabled house in the novel, and in real life it is now a hotel, in West Gate, Canterbury, called "The House of Agnes" LINK HERE



"The House of Agnes" Hotel in Canterbury, Kent. There is another picture of it in our group reads discussion, chapter 19.

Many thanks for the link, Jean. I've been to Canterbury quite a few times but didn't know about this hotel - how great that it is called The House of Agnes.

If you ever go there Judy, you must tell us what it's like. Perhaps they have a little display about the novel :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "he also used the places familiar to him,
Here is where we can share information about these."

What a charming thread, Jean. Thank you. :)

Hopefully we'll find lots of instances to post, Milena :)

Our member Ashley was talking elsewhere about "Satis House", where Miss Havisham lived, in Great Expectations, so I thought it might be nice to share the original for it.

Here is "Restoration House" in Rochester, Kent, which Dicken used as his model for "Satis House":



And here's their website - link here. You can visit the house.

"Satis House", was based on "Restoration House" in Rochester. Charles II stayed there on his return to England in 1660, restoring the English monarchy after Oliver Cromwell. But also the word "satis" has an interesting derivation, and several layers of meaning for those who know the entire story. (view spoiler)[It is is an Indian word which describes the act of a widow throwing herself on her husband's funeral pyre. (hide spoiler)]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Our member Ashley was talking elsewhere about "Satis House", where Miss Havisham lived, in Great Expectations, so I thought it might be nice to share the original for it.

Here is "Rest..."

That’s wonderful, Jean. I love your explanation, especially the spoiler.

Yes, it's so apt! But it is a spoiler, of course.

Um ... what David says might make everyone scoff in disbelief, but it's largely true! Except that the roof was of another house ...

Rod Hull had by then lost the ownership of Restoration House because of unpaid taxes. He had owned Restoration House between 1986 and 1994. All very sad, and an ignoble end, to fall from the roof of his more modest home in Winchelsea, East Sussex in 1999.

For non-UK members Rod Hull was an English comedian and puppeteer. His "sidekick" was an oversized glove puppet "Emu" who was very aggressive and whom he found difficult to control - hence the humour.

Michael Parkinson had a popular long-running chat show, and when Rod Hull and Emu were invited, Emu attacked Parky, caused mayhem as usual and virtually trashed the set. Fantastic TV, but he probably went too far, and the dignified TV host may well have cause to feel resentful!

LOL I have to confess I thought this part of your post was a wind-up David :D

But it is extraordinary how apt the name of another house in the city proved to be.