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The Old Curiosity Shop #1
Loja de Antiguidades: Tomo I
Em A Loja de Antiguidades Dickens conduz-nos, pela mão da pequena Nell e do seu avô, a uma fantástica peregrinação através da Inglaterra da Revolução Industrial. Ao longo do percurso vamos encontrando as fábricas, os canais, as cidades fumarentas e miseráveis irrompendo do nevoeiro e dominando a paisagem, onde pequenas aldeias, com as suas igrejas e campanários velhos e abandonados, parecem sublinhar serem já pertença do passado.
Operários, saltimbancos, jogadores, estalajadeiros, um mestre-escola simpático e advogados sem escrúpulos, a Sr.ª Jarley, com a sua colecção ambulante de figuras de cera, e até um anão diabólico decalcado daqueles duendes malignos que encontramos em certas lendas góticas - estes e muitos outros são os personagens que povoam A Loja de Antiguidades e a transformam num fresco admirável sobre a sociedade inglesa do século passado.
Operários, saltimbancos, jogadores, estalajadeiros, um mestre-escola simpático e advogados sem escrúpulos, a Sr.ª Jarley, com a sua colecção ambulante de figuras de cera, e até um anão diabólico decalcado daqueles duendes malignos que encontramos em certas lendas góticas - estes e muitos outros são os personagens que povoam A Loja de Antiguidades e a transformam num fresco admirável sobre a sociedade inglesa do século passado.
343 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1841
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.7k books31.5k 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 7, 2022
You must acknowledge this about Dickens: If a scene can be explained in three sentences, Dickens' will use thirteen. This classic took a long time for me to read, and I broke up the reading with many other genres and eras, but it is one that everyone should enjoy. Everyone knows Dickens' classics like ' A Christmas Carol'. In Curiosity Shop the time and scenery are just as gritty, the story just as full of unusual characters, and the meandering story-line to a much anticipated happy ending, worth every long reading session is there too. But one can almost smell the characters and see the countryside to appreciate Dickens genius. Fair warning though, it will be awhile before I start another less familiar Dickens tale again.
February 15, 2021
While it was rather slow in parts, this reminded me of a classic fairytale style and I couldn't help but thinking it would make an interesting movie. The book has characters in extremes and maybe this is how Dickens often writes? It's been a long time since I've read one of his.
November 27, 2016
This is the only work from Dickens which first hit me via a different media, namely a really poor BBC telly presentation. It was so bad, I stayed away from it and only relented when I realized there were just a few books of Mr. Dickens still waiting for my perusal. Thankfully, the Master wrote better than the BBC could adapt, and I am one happy reader, as usual with my favorite author.
While the characters of Nell (angelic) and Quilp (evil) are too stereotyped for this book to be fully successful, I understand that Dickens was writing for an audience awaiting serialized updates. This explains the sudden disappearance of the Narrator, who re-appears (I think, this is just the first volume) as someone else later. Dickens has his usual treasure trove of characters who seem to materialize with no connection, until you read further and discover the golden threads.
This volume ends with Nell and Grandfather finding a resting place with the Schoolmaster and the Bachelor. It rather feels like waiting for the next edition of the Harry Potter series, our equivalent of what Dickens' devoted readers must have felt in the 19th century.
Meanwhile, the brandy-and-hot-water streak continues. Without fail, every time I pick up a book of Dickens, inevitably I feel the need for that concoction because he always makes me believe I am in a cold, foggy, forbidding location...even when I am sitting in 87 degree weather in sunny California.
Book Season = Winter (always with Dickens)
While the characters of Nell (angelic) and Quilp (evil) are too stereotyped for this book to be fully successful, I understand that Dickens was writing for an audience awaiting serialized updates. This explains the sudden disappearance of the Narrator, who re-appears (I think, this is just the first volume) as someone else later. Dickens has his usual treasure trove of characters who seem to materialize with no connection, until you read further and discover the golden threads.
This volume ends with Nell and Grandfather finding a resting place with the Schoolmaster and the Bachelor. It rather feels like waiting for the next edition of the Harry Potter series, our equivalent of what Dickens' devoted readers must have felt in the 19th century.
Meanwhile, the brandy-and-hot-water streak continues. Without fail, every time I pick up a book of Dickens, inevitably I feel the need for that concoction because he always makes me believe I am in a cold, foggy, forbidding location...even when I am sitting in 87 degree weather in sunny California.
Book Season = Winter (always with Dickens)
November 25, 2012
This is probably the worst book I have ever read in my entire life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews