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Doctor Marigold
Originally published in 1865, Dr. Marigold was extremely successful, as were Dickens's public performances of a play based on the story - fascinating and easy to read. Doctor (it is his given name) Marigold is a "Cheap Jack" or what we would call a street peddler. Doctor Marigold's fortunes reverse when he adopts a deaf and mute girl whose mother is dead and whose stepfather, owner of a traveling circus, beats her. Dr Marigold recalls an overwhelming passion across two cultures - hearing and deaf.
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First published December 1, 1865
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.9k books31.4k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 14, 2020
This story might seem a bit too sweet to most. It has an aura of the melodrama about it, but I am a sucker for a kind tale of sacrifice and genuine love. We could use a little more of this in real life; I am happy to find it in literature.
October 6, 2018
An interesting and enjoyable Dickens story - I loved the exploration of the relationship between father and daughter.
January 12, 2021
This is an excellent Christmas number of Dickens’s. Its framing narrative and one “prescription”(story) are written by the man himself; the other “prescriptions” are by Rosa Mulholland, Charles Allston Collins (Wilkie’s brother), Hesba Stretton, Walter Thornbury, and Mrs. Gascoyne. The stories range from horror to humorously clever to cautionary to thrilling to mysterious, all culminating in a satisfying ending, with much credit to Dickens’s character Doctor Marigold, who is not a doctor—it’s his real first name.
In addition to The Seven Poor Travellers, which I read a few years ago, this is another worthy edition by Hesperus Classics of Dickens’s Christmas numbers. It contains an excellent foreword, introduction (nothing is given away, but it has more meaning if read afterward), end-notes, and biographical information. I started it over the holidays then had to set it aside, but it can be read at any time. The framing story ends on a Christmas, but none of the tales are holiday-specific.
In addition to The Seven Poor Travellers, which I read a few years ago, this is another worthy edition by Hesperus Classics of Dickens’s Christmas numbers. It contains an excellent foreword, introduction (nothing is given away, but it has more meaning if read afterward), end-notes, and biographical information. I started it over the holidays then had to set it aside, but it can be read at any time. The framing story ends on a Christmas, but none of the tales are holiday-specific.
July 11, 2019
🖤En mi afán de ir ampliando mi humilde colección de Charles Dickens me encontré esta pequeña maravilla de tan solo 74 páginas .
🖤En1865 en un número extra de Navidad la revista “All The Year Round” que dirigía Dickens,publicó un extenso relato :”Doctor Marigold’s Prescriptions”,está edición recoge el contenido del primer capítulo y del octavo que corresponde a la pluma de Dickens.
🖤El protagonista:Un doctor que no es médico...su profesión:buhonero .
Nos da unas clases magistrales de cómo se puede ser mejor persona aun en los peores entornos y en condiciones .
🖤Mucha ironía ,una bonita historia de segundas oportunidades de la vida,una gran crítica política y social .Creo que es de las críticas más contundentes a la profesión política que le he leído al autor .
🖤Como no ,refleja la sociedad de la época ,las diferencias de clases,el maltrato infantil,el hambre...
🖤Apuesta por la educación y demuestra un gran amor por los libros ...está parte a mí me llego especialmente.Vemos como el protagonista en las peores condiciones con un gran amor puede construir una biblioteca propia y muy especial ...si os animáis a descubrirla os va a sorprender.
🖤En1865 en un número extra de Navidad la revista “All The Year Round” que dirigía Dickens,publicó un extenso relato :”Doctor Marigold’s Prescriptions”,está edición recoge el contenido del primer capítulo y del octavo que corresponde a la pluma de Dickens.
🖤El protagonista:Un doctor que no es médico...su profesión:buhonero .
Nos da unas clases magistrales de cómo se puede ser mejor persona aun en los peores entornos y en condiciones .
🖤Mucha ironía ,una bonita historia de segundas oportunidades de la vida,una gran crítica política y social .Creo que es de las críticas más contundentes a la profesión política que le he leído al autor .
🖤Como no ,refleja la sociedad de la época ,las diferencias de clases,el maltrato infantil,el hambre...
🖤Apuesta por la educación y demuestra un gran amor por los libros ...está parte a mí me llego especialmente.Vemos como el protagonista en las peores condiciones con un gran amor puede construir una biblioteca propia y muy especial ...si os animáis a descubrirla os va a sorprender.
August 16, 2020
This story is widely available in ebook editions, but I have just reread it in an old hardback copy of Dickens's Christmas Stories. It is very melodramatic and likely to move readers to tears, but with plenty of humour too. It follows the often tragic story of a cheapjack, "Doctor" Marigold (called after the Doctor who delivered him!)
You can really see why this was a popular item at Dickens's public readings. It's cleverly written in the first person, so that he includes just enough Cockney to give us the cheapjack's voice, but without so much dialect that it becomes hard to read. There is a standout sequence where the pedlar performs his entertaining patter to the crowd while his heart is breaking, hiding what is really going on.
A fascinating element for me, as I live in Ipswich, is that the Doctor meets his future wife in the marketplace in the town opposite the corn chandler's shop - I have been told by a local Dickens expert that this is the Cornhill, the main square in our town centre.
I'm hoping soon to get a reprint of the full original Christmas number where the story originally appeared, Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions, which also included stories by other writers. It was republished some years ago by Hesperus, who republished many of the Christmas numbers, but that edition is now out of print. (I did buy a Kindle copy of another publisher's edition of the full number, but returned it for quality reasons, as it had so many scanning errors it was unreadable. Someone had presumably used software which "corrected" unusual spellings, as a result continually turning Sophy's name into either Soppy or Trophy!)
You can really see why this was a popular item at Dickens's public readings. It's cleverly written in the first person, so that he includes just enough Cockney to give us the cheapjack's voice, but without so much dialect that it becomes hard to read. There is a standout sequence where the pedlar performs his entertaining patter to the crowd while his heart is breaking, hiding what is really going on.
A fascinating element for me, as I live in Ipswich, is that the Doctor meets his future wife in the marketplace in the town opposite the corn chandler's shop - I have been told by a local Dickens expert that this is the Cornhill, the main square in our town centre.
I'm hoping soon to get a reprint of the full original Christmas number where the story originally appeared, Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions, which also included stories by other writers. It was republished some years ago by Hesperus, who republished many of the Christmas numbers, but that edition is now out of print. (I did buy a Kindle copy of another publisher's edition of the full number, but returned it for quality reasons, as it had so many scanning errors it was unreadable. Someone had presumably used software which "corrected" unusual spellings, as a result continually turning Sophy's name into either Soppy or Trophy!)
September 4, 2020
Sweet little tale about a 'Cheap Jack' a Victorian term for a traveling salesman who was named Doctor after the doctor who delivered him. He is a kindly man who turns his own personal sorrow into kindness for others! Would never have read this little known story by Dickens were it not one of the reads by our group, the Dickensians. Thanks Bionic Jean et all!
March 26, 2019
"דוקטור מריגולד" היא לטעמי היצירה הטובה ביותר בפרוייקט "מפה לאוזן" של הוצאת תשע נשמות.
סיפור מרחיב לב, על נווד, סוחר עתיקות שאיבד את אישתו ובתו וקשר את גורלו עם ילדה חרשת אילמת, אסופית שלקח תחת חסותו. האסופית גדלה לקרוא לו אב ולאחר שהוא משקיע זמן ומרץ בחינוכה הוא שולח אותה להתחנל במוסד מיוחד שיאפשר לה לקבל השכלה שתשמש אותה בבגרותה.
הקשר האמיץ בין דוקטור מריגולד לאסופית מגיע לשיאו כאשר היא יולדת ילדה שקוראת לו סבא. במקודת זמן זו הוא מגיע למנוחה ולנחלה המיוחלת בחיק משפחתו המאומצת.
סיפור מקסים, על חסדים קטנים.
סיפור מרחיב לב, על נווד, סוחר עתיקות שאיבד את אישתו ובתו וקשר את גורלו עם ילדה חרשת אילמת, אסופית שלקח תחת חסותו. האסופית גדלה לקרוא לו אב ולאחר שהוא משקיע זמן ומרץ בחינוכה הוא שולח אותה להתחנל במוסד מיוחד שיאפשר לה לקבל השכלה שתשמש אותה בבגרותה.
הקשר האמיץ בין דוקטור מריגולד לאסופית מגיע לשיאו כאשר היא יולדת ילדה שקוראת לו סבא. במקודת זמן זו הוא מגיע למנוחה ולנחלה המיוחלת בחיק משפחתו המאומצת.
סיפור מקסים, על חסדים קטנים.
February 9, 2023
Written as a story for one of his Christmas editions of 'All the Year Round', 'Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions' as it was first entitled is a heart-wrenching tale of a cheap jack, market trader, who loses his own daughter and then his wife and ends up adopting a deaf and dumb young girl.
In the most gentle and enchanting way (which follows some of the more brutish happenings earlier in the tale) Doctor Marigold (so called because he was delivered on the Queen's highway by a kindly doctor) teaches her to understand and communicate with him as they travel the country selling his wares.
When she meets a young boy who she is obviously attracted to Doctor is in a quandary and does not know what to do. His heart tells him that Sophy, the name he had given her after his own daughter, is his and his alone and he feels that he cannot let her go after all the effort he has put in to educate her. But after much heart searching he realises that he is being selfish and gives his blessing to the relationship.
Sophy marries and departs with her new husband only to return some years later with a child of her own and Doctor's delight when he realises that his granddaughter can speak is unbounded.
It is a loving story with plenty of Dickensian description and dialogue to augment the delightful tale.
In the most gentle and enchanting way (which follows some of the more brutish happenings earlier in the tale) Doctor Marigold (so called because he was delivered on the Queen's highway by a kindly doctor) teaches her to understand and communicate with him as they travel the country selling his wares.
When she meets a young boy who she is obviously attracted to Doctor is in a quandary and does not know what to do. His heart tells him that Sophy, the name he had given her after his own daughter, is his and his alone and he feels that he cannot let her go after all the effort he has put in to educate her. But after much heart searching he realises that he is being selfish and gives his blessing to the relationship.
Sophy marries and departs with her new husband only to return some years later with a child of her own and Doctor's delight when he realises that his granddaughter can speak is unbounded.
It is a loving story with plenty of Dickensian description and dialogue to augment the delightful tale.
August 17, 2020
Doctor Marigold is a "cheap-jack," a peddler who hawks low-priced goods from a horse-drawn cart. He's quite skilled at the patter, knowing how to interact with the audience and making them feel that they are getting a bargain. The story is very sentimental, involving his sickly biological daughter and his later adoption of a deaf-mute girl.
Dickens often wrote about people in difficult circumstances, and he supported education for those in the deaf community. Doctor Marigold's deaf daughter is an intelligent girl who learns to communicate, and is a great joy to her loving father. Dickens leaves us with some sweet holiday happiness. 3.5 stars.
Dickens often wrote about people in difficult circumstances, and he supported education for those in the deaf community. Doctor Marigold's deaf daughter is an intelligent girl who learns to communicate, and is a great joy to her loving father. Dickens leaves us with some sweet holiday happiness. 3.5 stars.
August 30, 2020
A hawker with a heart. Doctor Marigold, named for the doctor who delivered him at birth, is an itinerant seller of all manner of goods. He marries a woman who turns out to be a cruel, child-beating mother of Sophy, their deaf and mute daughter. Then, Sophy dies, later followed by the mother's suicide and Doctor Marigold is alone and having a difficult time. The story is rather depressing at this point but soon Doctor Marigold finds new purpose and the story becomes an enchanting story of devotion and love. As seen in Dickens' works before, there are social themes in this story about social class, politicians, domestic violence, child abuse, education of those with disabilities, suicide, and even the salvation of books. I did find it curious about how the adoption of Marigold's new daughter came about, however. I thought the writing style was cumbersome in the beginning of the story and almost gave up reading. However, as the story took on a more positive mood, the writing seemed easier to read. For those so inclined, it tends to be a real tear-jerker (I had tears in my eyes, but a smile on my face).
August 15, 2020
I was glad the story took a turn halfway through as the beginning was just horrible. Sad, ghastly, depressing.
It’s a short story of Dickens, so a fairly quick read. I do enjoy how Dickens seems to like to wrap up all his little ends in stories, and even having only a few characters he did that here.
I haven’t read much Dickens, but this story seems typical of his style in longer novels.
It’s a short story of Dickens, so a fairly quick read. I do enjoy how Dickens seems to like to wrap up all his little ends in stories, and even having only a few characters he did that here.
I haven’t read much Dickens, but this story seems typical of his style in longer novels.
August 18, 2020
Very cute, very sweet! I enjoyed it :)
January 20, 2021
(Re-read in 2021):
Precious. One of Dickens's best pieces of short fiction.
-----------------------------------------
(Read in 2016):
A sad, sweet story about a man who peddles odd and ends from his horse-drawn cart. This very short tale is concise, never meandering, and has heart to spare.
Doctor Marigold is not a doctor; his first name is actually Doctor, for the man who delivered him at birth. What a charmer he is! The story is told in an engaging first-person narrative. Doctor addresses the reader in that “tell you what I’m gonna do” sort of speech you might expect from a traveling salesman. But he’s not the least bit slick or shady. Doctor is candid; he speaks to you as though he has been just WAITING to tell someone his story.
Doctor Marigold is a public domain book; I read it as a Kindle freebie. Even without an e-reader, you can go to a number of literature websites to access the story in full and read online. It's a little-known gem, I'd say. So, carve out some time, make a cup of tea, and let Doctor Marigold regale you with his bittersweet tale.
______
Places you can read this story online:
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Charle...
http://www.online-literature.com/dick...
August 17, 2020
A story about a father having a second chance and one that teaches us acceptance.
The first time I read this, I thought how sweet, but I really didn't think about the themes or what Mr. Dickens was wanting to do. After having to write a text on it for a group here (Dickensians!), I really had to think of what the messages were, I discovered a lot more depth than at first view. I feel a little defensive of this story now, I think for someone who doesn't know too much about the author and don't want to invest the time to discover him through a novel first that Doctor Marigold has a lot in common with the novels: the quirky narrator, trying to change society through writings, (a couple others, but don't want to start with spoilers).
I'm reading a book of american short stories now where the editor in his intro (in 1915) says how much superior american short stories are, if I could time travel I would make him read this one and then do a fairer intro to his book.
The first time I read this, I thought how sweet, but I really didn't think about the themes or what Mr. Dickens was wanting to do. After having to write a text on it for a group here (Dickensians!), I really had to think of what the messages were, I discovered a lot more depth than at first view. I feel a little defensive of this story now, I think for someone who doesn't know too much about the author and don't want to invest the time to discover him through a novel first that Doctor Marigold has a lot in common with the novels: the quirky narrator, trying to change society through writings, (a couple others, but don't want to start with spoilers).
I'm reading a book of american short stories now where the editor in his intro (in 1915) says how much superior american short stories are, if I could time travel I would make him read this one and then do a fairer intro to his book.
August 16, 2020
This was a very touching story. Doctor Marigold and his second Sophie are a great example of love and patience. The first part was rather heart breaking with all that happened to Sophie, and the second Sophie. Ultimately, this is a story about a father trying and getting a second chance.
I also like how Dickens was somewhat ahead of his time in showing Sophie as a capable, smart and loving woman, despite that fact she was deaf and mute.
I also like how Dickens was somewhat ahead of his time in showing Sophie as a capable, smart and loving woman, despite that fact she was deaf and mute.
April 27, 2019
לדעתי זהו הסיפור הקצר ביותר שקראתי מפרי עטו של דיקנס. אצל סופר ענק שכמותו זה לא ממש משנה. יש כאן את כל המאפיינים שעשו את דיקנס למה שהוא ומדובר פשוט בקסם של סיפור. תמיד היה לי העונג לקרוא בספריו
January 26, 2021
זהו הספר הראשון של דיקנס שאני קוראת, והוא כל כך מקסים, אז בוודאי שלא יהיה האחרון. זו נובלה קצרה על סוחר בחפצים משומשים שכשרונו ביכולת הרטורית שלו. הוא נע ונד בין ערים שונות ומוכר חפצים. לאחר שאיבד את ילדתו בגלל מחלה, הוא מאמץ נערה חירשת-אילמת ומגדל אותה. נובלה מקסימה, כתובה נהדר ומרחיבת לב.
August 23, 2015
Una deliciosa historia corta. Qué bonito es leer cuando escribe Dickens. Que maestro de las palabras.
Poco se puede decir de esta narración. Solo: léela.
Poco se puede decir de esta narración. Solo: léela.
January 17, 2024
საინტერესოდ წასამითხი, ცხოვრებისეული ამბავი ♡
August 17, 2022
Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions was first published as a Christmas number in Dicken's periodical All the Year Round (1865). In completing the scheme undertaken in the first chapter six stories and sketches, supposed to be prepared for the amusement of Cheap Jack's adopted daughter, were added at this point. Five of these stories were contributed by other writers, Dickens being accountable for the other three.
I. To be Taken Immediately By Mr. Charles Dickens 5⭐
II. Not to be Taken at Bed-time By Miss Muiholland 3.5⭐
III. To be Taken at the Dinner-Table By Mr. Charles Collins 3⭐
IV. Not to be Taken for Granted By Miss Hesba Stretton 3.25⭐
V. To be Taken in Water By Mr. Thornbury 3.5⭐
VI. To be Taken with a Grain of Salt By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
VII. To be Taken and Tried By Mrs. Gascoyne 3⭐
VIII. To be Taken for Life By Mr. Charles Dickens 4.5⭐
Mugby Junction
Barbox Brothers By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
Barbox Brothers And CO. By Mr. Charles Dickens 4.5⭐
Main Line The Boy At Mugby By Mr. Charles Dickens 3.75⭐
No. 1 Branch Line The Signal-Man By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
No. 2 Branch Line The Engine Driver By Mr. Halliday 3.5⭐
No. 3 Branch Line The Compensation House By Mr. Charles Collins 3.25⭐
No. 4 Branch Line The Travelling Post Office By Miss Hesba Stretton 3.75⭐
No. 5 Branch Line The Engineer By Miss Amelia Edwards 4⭐
I. To be Taken Immediately By Mr. Charles Dickens 5⭐
II. Not to be Taken at Bed-time By Miss Muiholland 3.5⭐
III. To be Taken at the Dinner-Table By Mr. Charles Collins 3⭐
IV. Not to be Taken for Granted By Miss Hesba Stretton 3.25⭐
V. To be Taken in Water By Mr. Thornbury 3.5⭐
VI. To be Taken with a Grain of Salt By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
VII. To be Taken and Tried By Mrs. Gascoyne 3⭐
VIII. To be Taken for Life By Mr. Charles Dickens 4.5⭐
Mugby Junction
Barbox Brothers By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
Barbox Brothers And CO. By Mr. Charles Dickens 4.5⭐
Main Line The Boy At Mugby By Mr. Charles Dickens 3.75⭐
No. 1 Branch Line The Signal-Man By Mr. Charles Dickens 4⭐
No. 2 Branch Line The Engine Driver By Mr. Halliday 3.5⭐
No. 3 Branch Line The Compensation House By Mr. Charles Collins 3.25⭐
No. 4 Branch Line The Travelling Post Office By Miss Hesba Stretton 3.75⭐
No. 5 Branch Line The Engineer By Miss Amelia Edwards 4⭐
November 30, 2020
Who am I to judge Charles Dickens?
Firstly, he is CHARLES DICKENS!
Secondly, I am biased - I like the way he paints an accurate portrait of his time in all his works.
Thirdly, English is my third language.
A man whose first name is Doctor can cure broken hearts.
I feel like I am the deaf and mute girl from the book...
Firstly, he is CHARLES DICKENS!
Secondly, I am biased - I like the way he paints an accurate portrait of his time in all his works.
Thirdly, English is my third language.
A man whose first name is Doctor can cure broken hearts.
I feel like I am the deaf and mute girl from the book...
April 26, 2018
Una bonita historia de un señor que de doctor solamente tiene el nombre. Una vida contada por el propio protagonista. Me ha gustado la forma de narrar de Dickens (siempre exquisita) y el protagonista, su humanidad y gran corazón. Una historia muy tierna.
December 18, 2019
קצר, ארכאי במובן הטוב, מרגש, משעשע. מקסים ואלמותי.
November 1, 2023
Good book
December 23, 2025
I need to discover more of Dickens. So far I have read A Christmas Carol and Dr. Marigold and both are embedded in a strong social and emotional justice motif - which is deeply moving and softening.
August 2, 2015
Doctor Marigold is not really a doctor. That's his actual name. His actual profession is a 'Cheap Jack', a hawker of low quality goods from a cart, accompanied with the patter to match.
In true hawker fashion that includes making fantastical claims about his merchandise, poking gentle fun at members of his audience, and starting the bidding from exorbitant prices which swiftly dwindle to the mere pennies the stuff is worth, then decrying his own poverty.
Doctor tells us of his troubled marriage, and obviously there is a sick child to tug at the heartstrings, it couldn't be by Dickens without one. He also throws in an ill-treated deaf and dumb orphan for good measure.
I admit that in times past when reading some of Dicken's doorstop-sized novels I have often found his one-note caricatures and swollen sentimentality hard to swallow, but this short story is as good as anything I have come across to recommending all that's good in him.
The Christmas Day ending will have you, in the words the large-hearted narrator himself, crying 'happy and yet pitying tears'.
Exactly the effect Dickens invariably goes for.
In true hawker fashion that includes making fantastical claims about his merchandise, poking gentle fun at members of his audience, and starting the bidding from exorbitant prices which swiftly dwindle to the mere pennies the stuff is worth, then decrying his own poverty.
Doctor tells us of his troubled marriage, and obviously there is a sick child to tug at the heartstrings, it couldn't be by Dickens without one. He also throws in an ill-treated deaf and dumb orphan for good measure.
I admit that in times past when reading some of Dicken's doorstop-sized novels I have often found his one-note caricatures and swollen sentimentality hard to swallow, but this short story is as good as anything I have come across to recommending all that's good in him.
The Christmas Day ending will have you, in the words the large-hearted narrator himself, crying 'happy and yet pitying tears'.
Exactly the effect Dickens invariably goes for.
July 10, 2024
A short story, really, in book form. Typical of its times, I guess, having a wife abuse her child in some ways while taking good care of her in others, and a husband just standing by and not stepping in, until its too late, altho he greatly loved the child. It gets better afterwards, when the wife gets her just reward for the cruelty, and the husband has new joy in his life. An example of Dickens' wit is that the main character is named Doctor Marigold. Yes, his name is Doctor, altho he is certainly not one, out of gratitude to a doctor who helped at his birth.
July 7, 2022
Le leí el año pasado pero no me acordaba de nada. Con la relectura me ha sorprendido la historia tan bonita que nos transmite Dickens y de la que, por la puntuación que le di de aquella, no llegué a apreciar.
August 28, 2021
Imprescindible!
Soy buhonero y mi padre se llamaba Willum Marigold… así empieza este maravilloso relato corto de Dickens, y con maravilloso quizás me quedo corta.
Doctor Marigold nos habla básicamente de un hombre bueno, que gracias a su facilidad de palabra se gana la vida con la venta ambulante, y nos cuenta en primera persona todas sus vivencias recorriendo el país. Nos habla de cómo conoció a su mujer y la conquistó, de su hija fallecida prematuramente y de su hija adoptiva sordomuda. Y pese a todo no es un libro triste, es un libro esperanzador, esperanza en que en el mundo hay gente buena como el buen Doctor Marigold, y que gracias a Dios obtiene su recompensa en la mejor manera posible, cariño.
Me traspasa la historia, como el buen buhonero se separa con dolor de su hija para darle una vida mejor, y como durante el tiempo que están separados él no deja de hacer todo por y para ella, como el carromato biblioteca que le crea para que pueda leer mientras lo acompañe en su devenir cuando vuelvan a estar juntos… maravilloso de nuevo.
Frases:
Si no se permite que un hombre sepa cual es su nombre en un país libre,¿cuanto se le permitirá saber en un país de esclavos?
Entre los buhoneros comerciantes y los políticos¿cuál es la diferencia? Al margen que nosotros comerciamos con quincalla , y ellos, con bienes de gran valor, no veo ninguna diferencia.
Aunque no me considero avaricioso, sí me gusta ser dueño de lo que tengo.
Para tomar durante toda la vida.
Más que recomendable, lectura rápida y divertida.
Este libro me sirve para el #24retosdelectura 2021 para los puntos
Libro que puedes leer en un día
Libro publicado originalmente por entregas ( de hecho la versión que yo he leído de @contraseñaeditorial recoge las entregas 1 y 8 de Las Recetas del Doctor Marigold que se publicaron en 1865 en el especial de Navidad de la revista All the year round, dirigida por el propio Dickens y que eran 8 capítulos, pero sólo el 1 y el 8 estaban escritos por él.
Libro cuyo protagonista sea un Doctor/ médico o enfermera.
Soy buhonero y mi padre se llamaba Willum Marigold… así empieza este maravilloso relato corto de Dickens, y con maravilloso quizás me quedo corta.
Doctor Marigold nos habla básicamente de un hombre bueno, que gracias a su facilidad de palabra se gana la vida con la venta ambulante, y nos cuenta en primera persona todas sus vivencias recorriendo el país. Nos habla de cómo conoció a su mujer y la conquistó, de su hija fallecida prematuramente y de su hija adoptiva sordomuda. Y pese a todo no es un libro triste, es un libro esperanzador, esperanza en que en el mundo hay gente buena como el buen Doctor Marigold, y que gracias a Dios obtiene su recompensa en la mejor manera posible, cariño.
Me traspasa la historia, como el buen buhonero se separa con dolor de su hija para darle una vida mejor, y como durante el tiempo que están separados él no deja de hacer todo por y para ella, como el carromato biblioteca que le crea para que pueda leer mientras lo acompañe en su devenir cuando vuelvan a estar juntos… maravilloso de nuevo.
Frases:
Si no se permite que un hombre sepa cual es su nombre en un país libre,¿cuanto se le permitirá saber en un país de esclavos?
Entre los buhoneros comerciantes y los políticos¿cuál es la diferencia? Al margen que nosotros comerciamos con quincalla , y ellos, con bienes de gran valor, no veo ninguna diferencia.
Aunque no me considero avaricioso, sí me gusta ser dueño de lo que tengo.
Para tomar durante toda la vida.
Más que recomendable, lectura rápida y divertida.
Este libro me sirve para el #24retosdelectura 2021 para los puntos
Libro que puedes leer en un día
Libro publicado originalmente por entregas ( de hecho la versión que yo he leído de @contraseñaeditorial recoge las entregas 1 y 8 de Las Recetas del Doctor Marigold que se publicaron en 1865 en el especial de Navidad de la revista All the year round, dirigida por el propio Dickens y que eran 8 capítulos, pero sólo el 1 y el 8 estaban escritos por él.
Libro cuyo protagonista sea un Doctor/ médico o enfermera.
June 18, 2024
Written as a story for one of his Christmas editions of 'All the Year Round', 'Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions' as it was first entitled is a heart-wrenching tale of a cheap jack, market trader, who loses his own daughter and then his wife and ends up adopting a deaf and dumb young girl.
In the most gentle and enchanting way (which follows some of the more brutish happenings earlier in the tale) Doctor Marigold (so called because he was delivered on the Queen's highway by a kindly doctor) teaches her to understand and communicate with him as they travel the country selling his wares.
When she meets a young boy who she is obviously attracted to Doctor is in a quandary and does not know what to do. His heart tells him that Sophy, the name he had given her after his own daughter, is his and his alone and he feels that he cannot let her go after all the effort he has put in to educate her. But after much heart searching he realises that he is being selfish and gives his blessing to the relationship.
In the most gentle and enchanting way (which follows some of the more brutish happenings earlier in the tale) Doctor Marigold (so called because he was delivered on the Queen's highway by a kindly doctor) teaches her to understand and communicate with him as they travel the country selling his wares.
When she meets a young boy who she is obviously attracted to Doctor is in a quandary and does not know what to do. His heart tells him that Sophy, the name he had given her after his own daughter, is his and his alone and he feels that he cannot let her go after all the effort he has put in to educate her. But after much heart searching he realises that he is being selfish and gives his blessing to the relationship.
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