Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy

by Charles Dickens

A mysterious benefactor turns out to be the last person anyone could have expected.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Literature, Historical Fiction, Short Stories

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1864

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

[Stiven Salazar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realmente no le en ontre nada de gracia a esta historia, un inicio prometedor pero que se pierde conforme avanza

[Mili Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid I read "Гвинеја Хроме Девојчице" (translation should be "A Lame Girl's Guinea") by Charles Dickens. It was in a children's picture book illustrated by incomparable Maria Pascual. The story has been one of my favourites for a very long time, so when I learned English I commenced my search for the original. It took years, but as Internet improved, I finally found Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy. The story is part III entitled "Another Past Lodger Relates His Experience As A Poor Relation". Theresa Ray is actually Teecie Ray, which is why other fans of the translation may have had trouble finding the original work. I found a free copy on Google Play.

I like Dickens. I like his writing style, but I confess the Serbian translation was better; the transation felt warmer and more romantic.

Nevertheless, this work is a treasure of Dickensian literature. If you like Dickens and his prose, you should give this book a go. If you belong to the impatient generation... Pass it by.

[Sladjana Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

MRS. LIRRIPER'S LEGACY-CHARLES DICKENS
✒️"But we know there's good in all of us,-if we only knew where it was in some of us"
🗼Nastavak priče o hostelu gospođe Liriper s mnogo kompleksnijom razradom likova
🗼Ovoga puta gospođa prelazi kanal i putuje u Francusku,na poziv misterioznog čoveka
🗼Otkrivaju se ne baš prijatne tajne iz prošlosti
🗼Major i gospođa Liriper su u strahu kakve će to posledice ostaviti na njenog usvojenog unuka Jemmy-ja
🗼Međutim,Jemmy je izrastao u plemenitog i mudrog momka,i njegova mašta i toplo srce stvaraju priču u kojoj su svi na kraju dobri.
🗼Dikensovski topla i poučna pričica u kojoj se dobro zaista nalazi u svakome,mada se u neke mora duboko zaroniti da bi se našlo🙂
#7sensesofabook #classicliterature #knjige #readingaddict #literature #bookstagram #charlesdickens

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy is a short story collection from multiple authors which appeared in Dickens's All Year Round publication. These collaborations generally involve Dickens setting up the framework of how the stories are connected in the first story and wrapping the collection up in a short bit at the end. This collection was first published in the extra Christmas number for 1864.

I loved that Dickens continued the stories of Mrs. Lirriper, the Major, and Jemmy in this second collection, published a year after Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings. Every story in this collection was five stars, for me. I really enjoyed each one. If I had to pick favorites, I think it would be the first story by Dickens and those by Charles Collins and Amelia B. Edwards, but I really did enjoy them all. The collection consists of some stories that you might have read in other collections, like Amelia B. Edwards's Phantom Coach, and others that I haven't come across before in other collections.

All the stories in Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy include:

Mrs. Lirriper Relates How She Went On, and Went Over by Charles Dickens
A Past Lodger Relates a Wild Story of a Doctor by Charles Collins
Another Past Lodger Relates his Experience as a Poor Relation by Rosa Mulholland
Another Past Lodger Relates What Lot He Drew at Glumper's House by Henry Spicer
Another Past Lodger Relates His Own Ghost Story by Amelia B. Edwards
Another Past Lodger Relates Certain Passages to Her Husband by Hesba Stretton
Mrs. Lirriper Relates How Jemmy Topped Up by Charles Dickens

[Tandry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0/5.0

[Jason Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Classics, and part of the debacle explained here.

I didn't enjoy this as much as Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings, but it had some of the same elements.

I used to think I was smart, but I've since been disabused of that notion. Did you know that "legacy" means bequest? Well, I didn't, and it's the first and more common definition in the dictionary. I thought it meant a memory of something fancy that someone did, which is the secondary meaning). Presidents and important people leave legacies behind. For this reason I was confused by the title for a while, and I was wondering where the story was going in relation to it. But it's about a bequest type legacy someone leaves for Mrs. Lirriper.

This is amusing as most of Dickens' works are, but not as amusing as the other story. There's plenty of good will and cheer, and a made up story from the boy at the end that could cause the feel-goods to settle on you if you're susceptible to such things. Being a Republican, I'm immune most of the time, and that proved to be the case here. (Though I've just started my annual reading of A Christmas Carol, and I just gush all over that thing no matter how many times I read it.)

This is another story that doesn't happen at Christmastime, but has the Christmas spirit woven through it, and it was published at Christmastime. I recommend it if you're looking for something short and cute with comic elements.

[Jud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same as the 1st book Mrs Lirriper it is written in the style of a letter to a close friend. It brings back a character from the 1st book which resolves the whole story rather nicely. I lovely quick read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good short story, following on from Mrs Lirriper's Lodgings. Typical Dickens with some good humour and characterisation.

[Michael Vickery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story forms one of the Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens. It follows on from by Mrs Lirriper's Lodgings. It is only a short story, but full of good narrative and humor.

[salauddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story

This is a perfect legecy story with fascinating ending. The description of every scene is remarkable. Must read story for all