Our English and French Watering-Place

by Charles Dickens

Our English Watering-Place and Our French Watering-Place are short stories by Charles Dickens. Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's most memorable fictional characters and is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. During his life, his works enjoyed unprecedented fame, and by the twentieth century his literary genius was broadly acknowledged by critics and scholars. His novels and short stories continue to be widely popular. Born in Portsmouth, England, Dickens was forced to leave school to work in a factory when his father was thrown into debtors' prison. Although he had little formal education, his early impoverishment drove him to succeed. Over his career he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas and 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 sprang to fame with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. Within a few years he had become an international literary celebrity, famous for his humour, satire, and keen observation of character and society. His novels, most published in monthly or weekly installments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. The installment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. For example, when his wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield seemed to reflect her disabilities, Dickens went on to improve the character with positive features. Fagin in Oliver Twist apparently mirrors the famous fence Ikey Solomon; His caricature of Leigh Hunt in the figure of Mr Skimpole in Bleak House was likewise toned down on advice from some of his friends, as they read episodes. In the same novel, both Lawrence Boythorne and Mooney the beadle are drawn from real life-Boythorne from Walter Savage Landor and Mooney from 'Looney', a beadle at Salisbury Square. His plots were carefully constructed, and Dickens often wove in elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor chipped in ha'pennies to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers.

Genres: Essays, Short Stories

44 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2014

About the author

Charles 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)

Reviews

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been relaxing at a lakeside cottage this week so it was the perfect time to read essays about two of Dickens' favorite "watering-places." Dickens often brought his family to stay for the summer at Broadstairs on the east coast of England, or travel across the Channel to Boulogne sur Mer on the west coast of France. Both are described as charming places with sandy beaches, fishing boats, beautiful views, historical sites, friendly people, and family entertainment. It's obvious that Dickens has many fond memories from family holidays at these seaside towns.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two lovely essays by Dickens on his family's favorite seaside vacation spots, one Broadstairs in England, and the other Boulogne in France. With his always delightful sense of fun and powers of description, Dickens makes you feel as if you, too, have visited these lovely towns and participated in the activities available there. I could not help thinking how wonderful it would be to have the resources to spend so much time in such a place that it begins to feel like a second home.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these two short stories, Dickens writes of two vacation settings he frequented. One is in England the other in France. Both are small seaside resort towns. I read these while on summer vacation myself, and it was so fun to think about Dickens on vacation while I was on one of my own.

What struck me most is that in both stories Dickens talks about the people of each town, more than the sights of that town. Most travel stories do the opposite. I think, for Dickens, the essence of a place is always the people that populate it. I’m not saying he doesn’t describe the physical buildings or the well known sights, because he does. But in each of these stories he writes about the people he encounters as if they are characters in one of his novels. And I love that about Dickens. He’s such a keen observer of the people around him.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two loving essays to commemorate and pay tribute to two cherished vacation destinations of the Dickens' family.

Broadstairs, England:
A loving and lovely essay of one of Dickens' favourite vacation spots. He lovingly wrote this wonderful tribute to the town, it's people and customs in his usual observant and humorous manner.
The descriptions of the beach, the town's entertainment, the stores & main streets are a loving tribute to a town that he held in his heart and loved. That shines through in this essay.
He's made me put Broadstairs on my bucket list. What a quaint and lovely town.

Boulogne, France:
The enjoyment that Dickens felt for this town comes through in how he lovingly describes the town, it's activities, it's scenes and it's people. This essay, like the English Watering Place, is a loving tribute to a much enjoyed vacation spot.
I enjoyed the description of going through Customs. Oh, how things have stayed the same. LOL.

These two essays are loving, warm and wonderful to read. They bring back images of my own vacations and the enjoyment I got from them. These essays are heart warming and wonderfully entertaining.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Our English Watering-Place, 3.5 stars
Our French Watering-Place, 3 stars

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.13⭐

Our English Watering-Place 3.25⭐
Our French Watering-Place 3⭐