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A House to Let
Compiled by Charles Dickens, and including chapters by Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins and Adelaide Anne Procter, A House to Let is a composite tale of mystery and intrigue set amid the dark streets of Victorian London. Advised by her doctor to have a change of scenery, the elderly Sophonisba takes up lodgings in London. Immediately intrigued by a nearby “house to let,” she charges her two warring attendants, Trottle and Jarber, to unearth the secret behind its seeming desertedness. Rivals to the end, they each seek to outdo the other to satisfy their mistress’ curiosity; however, it is only after repeated false starts—and by way of elaborate tales of men lost at sea, circus performers, and forged death certificates—that they happen upon the truth. Charles Dickens is one of England’s most important literary figures. His works enjoyed enormous success in his day and are still among the most popular and widely read classics of all time.
104 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1858
86 people are currently reading
1770 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
11.9k books30.9k 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 224 reviews
May 5, 2017
I have heard, as everybody else has, of a spirit’s haunting a house; but I have had my own personal experience of a house’s haunting a spirit; for that House haunted mine.
A House to Let is the by-product of collaboration between four authors: Dickens, Collins, Gaskell and Procter. (As I am a comic book nerd, I call them GCPD) This is a story of an elderly lady's obsession with the house opposite to her cottage; A house that neither gets rented nor repaired; A house with an odd presence in it.
I know what you are thinking. No, it's not haunted.
For most of the parts, this is a well written cozy mystery. There are six chapters in this story and the four authors wrote one chapter each. Furthermore, Dickens and Collins penned the first and last chapters together.
Out of six chapters, only three contribute to the real story. The other three are just filler chapters. Nevertheless, I loved the chapter written by Gaskell, The Manchester marriage which recounts the history of one of the previous tenants of the house.
Oddly enough, one of the filler chapter recounting the history of the house is written by Dickens himself and it is unequivocally the most boring chapter in this book.
If I could edit out that chapter and Procter's ten-page poem (for good measure), this would have been a solid four star story for me. All the chapters written by Collins & Collins/Dickens are solid, giving importance to the characters and the mystery itself. (I am tempted to call Collins the real MVP of this collaboration)
At the very least, A house to let is a decent story and undoubtedly much better than their second collaborative work: The haunted house.
--------------------------------------------
Victorian marriage proposal #17
“Mrs. Frank, is there any reason why we two should not put up our horses together?”
Awwwww, he wants to join their hous...wait. eh?
December 28, 2022
Four Victorian authors, including Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, teamed up for this bumpy but enjoyable novella. The contributions from Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Proctor were the most powerful for me.
April 22, 2017
A short and cozy mystery.
February 9, 2017
I started out with A House to Let by reading the chapter entitled Going into Society, which is one of Dickens' Christmas stories. Read alone, the chapter is quite entertaining, a tad weird maybe (to my mind, although maybe not to younger generations).
I was fascinated, as Dickens characters always fascinate. I really did want to understand it, though, and reading the entire book (5 chapters) seemed to be the most logical approach. So I just finished and I think I will make the entire book an annual Christmas event. In short, I loved it!
The book was a collaborative effort of Dickens with his contemporaries, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and poet Adelaide Anne Procter. A famous lot to be sure -- except for Procter -- but her poetry is so wonderful that it seems a shame that her work remains in the shadows.
This truly is a Christmas treat. An engaging plot. A smorgasbord of characters for all appetites from whimsical to tragic. There is no better way to pass a few of the darkest winter hours! The Librivox recording by Ruth Golding perfects the experience. Try it -- you'll like it too!
I was fascinated, as Dickens characters always fascinate. I really did want to understand it, though, and reading the entire book (5 chapters) seemed to be the most logical approach. So I just finished and I think I will make the entire book an annual Christmas event. In short, I loved it!
The book was a collaborative effort of Dickens with his contemporaries, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and poet Adelaide Anne Procter. A famous lot to be sure -- except for Procter -- but her poetry is so wonderful that it seems a shame that her work remains in the shadows.
This truly is a Christmas treat. An engaging plot. A smorgasbord of characters for all appetites from whimsical to tragic. There is no better way to pass a few of the darkest winter hours! The Librivox recording by Ruth Golding perfects the experience. Try it -- you'll like it too!
June 15, 2024
A House to Let, at less than 100 pages, a collaboration between four 19th century authors which originally appeared as the Christmas edition of Charles Dickens’ weekly magazine, Household Words, in 1858. 6 chapters, each organized as a short story anthology.
1. The pitch is that an elderly lady named Sophonisba, upon the advice of her physician (victorian era), rents a house in London for several months. Her manservant, finds the perfect place. The only drawback is that it is directly opposite a mysterious house, which has stood vacant for many years.
Her curiosity is piqued, and she commissions an investigation into what happened. Each subsequent chapter, written by a different author, traces another owner or tenant in the history of the mysterious house.
2. The Manchester Marriage, by Gaskell, a beautifully written, somewhat tragic domestic tale of a couple from Manchester who move into the house.
3.Going into Society
4.Three Evenings in the House (multipage narrative poem)
5.Trottle's Report
6.Let at Last
3/5 Long story short, it was tolerable, but a great introduction to the different Victorian authors.
Short story long? Anything written by Dickens. The poster child of why you don't pay your authors by the word.
When writing alongside Collins, the two authors balance eachother out, solo? I remember why I prefer his books are best viewed on TV and not read.
1. The pitch is that an elderly lady named Sophonisba, upon the advice of her physician (victorian era), rents a house in London for several months. Her manservant, finds the perfect place. The only drawback is that it is directly opposite a mysterious house, which has stood vacant for many years.
Her curiosity is piqued, and she commissions an investigation into what happened. Each subsequent chapter, written by a different author, traces another owner or tenant in the history of the mysterious house.
2. The Manchester Marriage, by Gaskell, a beautifully written, somewhat tragic domestic tale of a couple from Manchester who move into the house.
3.Going into Society
4.Three Evenings in the House (multipage narrative poem)
5.Trottle's Report
6.Let at Last
3/5 Long story short, it was tolerable, but a great introduction to the different Victorian authors.
Short story long? Anything written by Dickens. The poster child of why you don't pay your authors by the word.
When writing alongside Collins, the two authors balance eachother out, solo? I remember why I prefer his books are best viewed on TV and not read.
January 20, 2021
Συνεργασία τεσσάρων συγγραφέων της Βικτωριανής Αγγλίας (αν και το έργο κακώς αποδίδεται σχεδόν αποκλειστικά στον Dickens) που δημοσιεύτηκε ως Χριστουγεννιάτικο ένθετο στο εβδομαδιαίο περιοδικό Household Words το 1858.
Ατμοσφαιρικό, σύντομο και καλογραμμένο, αποδεικνύει περίτρανα ότι ακόμα κι αν δε βρίσκονται στα καλύτερά τους, οι δημιουργοί του τα καταφέρνουν καλύτερα από τις καλύτερες στιγμές των άλλων.
3.5/5
Ατμοσφαιρικό, σύντομο και καλογραμμένο, αποδεικνύει περίτρανα ότι ακόμα κι αν δε βρίσκονται στα καλύτερά τους, οι δημιουργοί του τα καταφέρνουν καλύτερα από τις καλύτερες στιγμές των άλλων.
3.5/5
December 12, 2019
This is a story about a house that is to be let, and an old lady's desire to solve the mystery behind the house which is not let. Two men, one is her butler and other her friend, vie each other to find out the truth behind the mystery.
Written by four well-known authors of the Victorian era, the story has a mixed touch of tone which is brought by the different styles and characteristics of writing. Dickens's wit, Collin's mystery, Gaskell's matter-of-factness, and Proctor's poetry were combined in the story. A comical and dramatic touch was added through the rivalry of the two male to please the old lady.
The story was interesting with a good storyline and a nice happy ending. It was a fun read and also quite an experience to read a story collaborated by four well-known authors.
Written by four well-known authors of the Victorian era, the story has a mixed touch of tone which is brought by the different styles and characteristics of writing. Dickens's wit, Collin's mystery, Gaskell's matter-of-factness, and Proctor's poetry were combined in the story. A comical and dramatic touch was added through the rivalry of the two male to please the old lady.
The story was interesting with a good storyline and a nice happy ending. It was a fun read and also quite an experience to read a story collaborated by four well-known authors.
December 10, 2017
Lavoro a quattro mani, e che mani!
Charles Dickens si avvale di collaboratori e amici per scrivere questa breve storia da pubblicare durante il periodo natalizio.
Si tratta del primo esperimento compiuto da questo team di autori a cui fece seguito Le stanze dei fantasmi.
Ho apprezzato maggiormente questo primo "esperimento" dove la storia è più lineare e centrata sull'argomento della casa sfitta.
La trama è semplice, un'anziana signora affitta una casa a Londra proprio di fronte ad un'altra dimora abbandonata. Suggestione o realtà, si convince di vedere qualcuno al suo interno e quindi partono le "indagini" per svelare i motivi che hanno portato la casa ed essere abbandonata per tanto tempo.
Ogni autore racconta quindi la storia di uno dei precedenti affittuari fino a sviscerare il mistero della casa, e chi altri poteva essere se non Collins?
Il tema natalizio viene rivelato solo nelle ultime pagine, una sorpresa che strappa anche attimi di commozione.
Charles Dickens si avvale di collaboratori e amici per scrivere questa breve storia da pubblicare durante il periodo natalizio.
Si tratta del primo esperimento compiuto da questo team di autori a cui fece seguito Le stanze dei fantasmi.
Ho apprezzato maggiormente questo primo "esperimento" dove la storia è più lineare e centrata sull'argomento della casa sfitta.
La trama è semplice, un'anziana signora affitta una casa a Londra proprio di fronte ad un'altra dimora abbandonata. Suggestione o realtà, si convince di vedere qualcuno al suo interno e quindi partono le "indagini" per svelare i motivi che hanno portato la casa ed essere abbandonata per tanto tempo.
Ogni autore racconta quindi la storia di uno dei precedenti affittuari fino a sviscerare il mistero della casa, e chi altri poteva essere se non Collins?
Il tema natalizio viene rivelato solo nelle ultime pagine, una sorpresa che strappa anche attimi di commozione.
November 8, 2022
I’ve had this book on my bookshelves since 2007. It looked like a quick read, so I read it today. I feel like a heel giving a Charles Dickens book 1 star. The nerve I have! 😮 😮 But this was really bad. 🙁 ☹️
I thought it would be interesting because it was really written by multiple authors and two of them were Elizabeth Gaskell and Wilkie Collins. And the only chapter I found to be decent was written by E. Gaskell. So my faith in Gaskell remains untarnished. And I love Dickens for other stuff he has done...
This was somewhat of a mystery book. What was up about the house across the street that apparently nobody lived in....it was for rent...why was it vacant for so long... why wouldn’t anybody rent the house?
There was no room for the reader to guess why that was so. For three parts of the book, the authors threw us off by having to read stories or a poem that supposedly shed light on the above mystery. In the end those stories had nothing to do with reality. Only near the end is revealed the mystery and there were no hints along the way where one could say “A-ha...that’s right. I remember Dickens wrote that earlier! How could I have missed that? Now everything makes perfect sense!” Nope...no way....
Plus, there was one chapter where the English language was mucked up and I had a hard time understanding what the narrator was saying. And then there was the poem consisting of three parts written by a friend of Dickens — Adelaide Anne Procter — that supposedly had something to do with the plot, but as far as I can tell it was another red herring. Grrr......
Note:
• "A House to Let" is a short story by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter. It was originally published in 1858 in the Christmas edition of Dickens' Household Words magazine. Each of the contributors wrote a chapter and the story was edited by Dickens. "A House to Let" was the first collaboration between the four writers, although Collins and Dickens had worked with Procter on previous Christmas stories for the magazine in 1854, 1855, and 1856. The four authors would write together again in 1859's "The Haunted House" which appeared in the extra Christmas number of All the Year Round, the successor to Household Words which Dickens had started after a dispute with his publishers. [from: https://www.lulu.com/shop/adelaide-an... ]
Reviews
• https://shereadsnovels.com/2010/07/04...
• https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogs...
• https://theedgeoftheprecipice.blogspo...
Comment: After reading the reviews I realize that the stories that I said was not related to the denouement merely dealt with the history of the house and who had lived in it before the period of time (more than 10 years) in which nobody lived in it. Still doesn’t change my rating!
I thought it would be interesting because it was really written by multiple authors and two of them were Elizabeth Gaskell and Wilkie Collins. And the only chapter I found to be decent was written by E. Gaskell. So my faith in Gaskell remains untarnished. And I love Dickens for other stuff he has done...
This was somewhat of a mystery book. What was up about the house across the street that apparently nobody lived in....it was for rent...why was it vacant for so long... why wouldn’t anybody rent the house?
There was no room for the reader to guess why that was so. For three parts of the book, the authors threw us off by having to read stories or a poem that supposedly shed light on the above mystery. In the end those stories had nothing to do with reality. Only near the end is revealed the mystery and there were no hints along the way where one could say “A-ha...that’s right. I remember Dickens wrote that earlier! How could I have missed that? Now everything makes perfect sense!” Nope...no way....
Plus, there was one chapter where the English language was mucked up and I had a hard time understanding what the narrator was saying. And then there was the poem consisting of three parts written by a friend of Dickens — Adelaide Anne Procter — that supposedly had something to do with the plot, but as far as I can tell it was another red herring. Grrr......
Note:
• "A House to Let" is a short story by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter. It was originally published in 1858 in the Christmas edition of Dickens' Household Words magazine. Each of the contributors wrote a chapter and the story was edited by Dickens. "A House to Let" was the first collaboration between the four writers, although Collins and Dickens had worked with Procter on previous Christmas stories for the magazine in 1854, 1855, and 1856. The four authors would write together again in 1859's "The Haunted House" which appeared in the extra Christmas number of All the Year Round, the successor to Household Words which Dickens had started after a dispute with his publishers. [from: https://www.lulu.com/shop/adelaide-an... ]
Reviews
• https://shereadsnovels.com/2010/07/04...
• https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogs...
• https://theedgeoftheprecipice.blogspo...
Comment: After reading the reviews I realize that the stories that I said was not related to the denouement merely dealt with the history of the house and who had lived in it before the period of time (more than 10 years) in which nobody lived in it. Still doesn’t change my rating!
August 31, 2025
Me ha encantado este libro. No sabía que estaba escrito por varios grandes autores del siglo XIX, añadiéndole cada uno su toque personal. Muy entretenido y fácil de leer. Lo recomiendo.
April 24, 2017
At 70%, and I'm unable to continue it further.
Except "The Manchester Marriage" which I enjoyed pretty good, rest of them were exhausting.
"Going Into Society" was very dull and boring. Then came "Three evenings in The House", the poems which sounded nice on reading, but I couldn't understand the head or tale (excuse the pun) of it. And that became the last straw.
Not interested to know about the house to let, in spite of the last chapter titled "Let At Last".
Overall: Annoyed by the old English, this slowly turned into a bitter medicine from a pleasant start.
Except "The Manchester Marriage" which I enjoyed pretty good, rest of them were exhausting.
"Going Into Society" was very dull and boring. Then came "Three evenings in The House", the poems which sounded nice on reading, but I couldn't understand the head or tale (excuse the pun) of it. And that became the last straw.
Not interested to know about the house to let, in spite of the last chapter titled "Let At Last".
Overall: Annoyed by the old English, this slowly turned into a bitter medicine from a pleasant start.
April 8, 2025
Aunque nunca había leído a Charles Dickens, este cuento no me parece una mala manera de acercarse a su obra.
Muchas piezas sueltas que hay que juntar para dar co la solución al dilema.
Muchas piezas sueltas que hay que juntar para dar co la solución al dilema.
April 22, 2017
A good story. Narrated in a most endearing way.
June 16, 2025
Dickens, Collins, Gaskell e Procter si sono alternati nella stesura di questo breve romanzo che ruota intorno al mistero di una casa sfitta. Ognuno con la propria voce, la propria sensibilità e il proprio umorismo. Bellissimo! Le parti migliori direi proprio quelle di Dickens e Collins, ma anche il capitolo scritto da Elizabeth Gaskell merita molto (pur essendo meno vivace di quelli dei suoi colleghi). Non conoscevo la Procter, e devo purtroppo dire che il suo capitolo è quello che fa perdere una stellina al libro: un limite mio, non sono riuscita a reggere un capitolo in versi... ci riproverò!
Grazie Caravaggio Editore per aver pubblicato questa piccola perla! Anzi, proprio una nota di merito per questa casa editrice dal catalogo molto interessante, per gli amanti dei classici (compreso un romanzo d'amore scritto da Bram Stoker che sono curiosa di iniziare, a penso mi terrò come lettura settembrina)
Grazie Caravaggio Editore per aver pubblicato questa piccola perla! Anzi, proprio una nota di merito per questa casa editrice dal catalogo molto interessante, per gli amanti dei classici (compreso un romanzo d'amore scritto da Bram Stoker che sono curiosa di iniziare, a penso mi terrò come lettura settembrina)
February 9, 2025
Un romanzo scritto a quattro mani da quattro grandi scrittori inglesi ottocenteschi, che hanno unito le loro forze per dare vita a una vicenda che ruota attorno una casa misteriosa, rimasta sfitta per ignoti motivi.
Ho amato l’originalità della struttura narrativa del libro, composta da una storia principale che apre la narrazione e fa da cornice narrativa al tutto e infine chiude la narrazione dando la risoluzione al mistero. La parte centrale è invece composta da quattro racconti, slegati tra loro, ma collegati dall’ambientazione all’interno della casa misteriosa.
Ho apprezzato in particolare tutta la vicenda che si snoda nella cornice narrativa (scritta da Dickens e Collins insieme) e poi davvero molto bello il primo racconto della Gaskell. Il racconto in versi della Procter invece è quello che ho apprezzato di meno, questioni di gusti personali, purtroppo non sono fan della poetica.
Un definitiva l’ho trovato un libro affascinante e d’atmosfera, con un finale piacevole, molto dickensiano.
Ho amato l’originalità della struttura narrativa del libro, composta da una storia principale che apre la narrazione e fa da cornice narrativa al tutto e infine chiude la narrazione dando la risoluzione al mistero. La parte centrale è invece composta da quattro racconti, slegati tra loro, ma collegati dall’ambientazione all’interno della casa misteriosa.
Ho apprezzato in particolare tutta la vicenda che si snoda nella cornice narrativa (scritta da Dickens e Collins insieme) e poi davvero molto bello il primo racconto della Gaskell. Il racconto in versi della Procter invece è quello che ho apprezzato di meno, questioni di gusti personali, purtroppo non sono fan della poetica.
Un definitiva l’ho trovato un libro affascinante e d’atmosfera, con un finale piacevole, molto dickensiano.
November 22, 2019
I had a long train ride planned, two and a half hours so I wanted to read a book front to end. I remember picking this up in the thrift shop, fifty cents, and yesterday evening it's thin spine spoke to me. Just kidding, I just looked for a short book to finish in one go.
Charming short stories, I found them very enjoyable. My favourite one was the marriage one. It's an old book, so old language is used. I will leave the book at the train station book exchange and pick up something else for the way back tonight.
Charming short stories, I found them very enjoyable. My favourite one was the marriage one. It's an old book, so old language is used. I will leave the book at the train station book exchange and pick up something else for the way back tonight.
December 6, 2019
The chapters were by different authors, so I liked some more than others. The overall rating is actually 3.5.
April 23, 2017
An empty house and it's many occupants form this story written by many authors. The writing style and form varies and the effect is good. I connected to Gaskell's and Procter's chapters more. Still it was all good old solid storytelling.
3 star for the plot. 1 start for the form.
3 star for the plot. 1 start for the form.
January 2, 2016
"A House to Let" ist eine (ziemlich lange) Kurzgeschichte, die in Kooperation entstand und gemeinsam von Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter geschrieben wurde und anschließend 1858 in Dickens „Household Words magazine“ veröffentlicht wurde.
Es ist eine klassische Frame Tale Story, in die mehrere weitere Geschichten eingebettet wurde, was die Kooperation sicherlich deutlich einfacher gestaltet hat. Die Rahmenerzählung wurde dabei von Wilkie Collins und Charles Dickens geschrieben.
Die Geschichte handelt von der alten Jungfer Sophonisba, die für einige Zeit in die Stadt gezogen ist und gegenüber einem Haus wohnt, das keiner mieten will. Dennoch ist sich Sophonisba sicher, dass da drüben jemand wohnt und dieser Gedanke lässt ihr keine Ruhe. Sie setzt ihren Verehrer Jabez Jarber (der ihr in regelmäßigen Abständen Heiratsanträge macht) und ihren Diener Trottle darauf an, herauszufinden, was es mit diesem Haus auf sich hat, das angeblich ihrem Cousin gehören soll (mit dem sie schon lange keinen Kontakt mehr hat).
Die Erkenntnisse der beiden Herren, die natürlich darin wetteifern die besten Geschichten herauszufinden, sind als abgeschlossene Geschichten in diese Rahmenhandlung eingebettet und haben teilweise sehr wenig mit dieser zu tun.
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell - THE MANCHESTER MARRIAGE – Erzählt die Geschichte von Alice Openshaw, die zunächst ihren Cousin, einen Seemann, heiratet, der dann verschollen geht. Nach einigen Jahren heiratet sie einen gutsituierten Handlungsreisenden und beginnt ein neues Leben, als ihr totgeglaubter Ehemann wieder auftaucht.
Charles Dickens - GOING INTO SOCIETY – Erzählt von einem Kleinwüchsigen Zirkusartisten, der in einer Lotterie ein Vermögen gewinnt und Teil der feinen Gesellschaft werden will, nur um in allen seinen Träumen und Erwartungen enttäuscht zu werden.
Adelaide Anne Procter - THREE EVENINGS IN THE HOUSE – ist ein Gedicht, dass die Geschichte einer treuen Schwester erzählt, die ihr eigenes Leben für ihren Bruder aufgibt und von allen für gefühllos gehalten wird und letztendlich mit ansehen muss, wie die Witwe ihres Bruder ihre große Liebe heiratet, die sie für ihren Bruder aufgegeben hat.
Wilkie Collins - TROTTLE’S REPORT – Kommt endlich zur Sache, was im Haus gegenüber vor sich geht.
Diese Kooperation wirkt ein wenig gewollt. Die ersten drei Geschichten wirken wie nutzlose Lückenfüller. Nett, in sich geschlossen aber nicht wirklich notwendig, man hätte sie auch rauslassen können, ohne dass wirklich etwas fehlen würde. Wenn aber die Bestsellerautoren ihrer Zeit gemeinsam etwas schreieben, treibt das wohl die Auflage hoch und dürfte wohl ein Marketinggag gewesen sein.
Unterhaltsam, aber zu Recht nicht sonderlich bekannt.
Es ist eine klassische Frame Tale Story, in die mehrere weitere Geschichten eingebettet wurde, was die Kooperation sicherlich deutlich einfacher gestaltet hat. Die Rahmenerzählung wurde dabei von Wilkie Collins und Charles Dickens geschrieben.
Die Geschichte handelt von der alten Jungfer Sophonisba, die für einige Zeit in die Stadt gezogen ist und gegenüber einem Haus wohnt, das keiner mieten will. Dennoch ist sich Sophonisba sicher, dass da drüben jemand wohnt und dieser Gedanke lässt ihr keine Ruhe. Sie setzt ihren Verehrer Jabez Jarber (der ihr in regelmäßigen Abständen Heiratsanträge macht) und ihren Diener Trottle darauf an, herauszufinden, was es mit diesem Haus auf sich hat, das angeblich ihrem Cousin gehören soll (mit dem sie schon lange keinen Kontakt mehr hat).
Die Erkenntnisse der beiden Herren, die natürlich darin wetteifern die besten Geschichten herauszufinden, sind als abgeschlossene Geschichten in diese Rahmenhandlung eingebettet und haben teilweise sehr wenig mit dieser zu tun.
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell - THE MANCHESTER MARRIAGE – Erzählt die Geschichte von Alice Openshaw, die zunächst ihren Cousin, einen Seemann, heiratet, der dann verschollen geht. Nach einigen Jahren heiratet sie einen gutsituierten Handlungsreisenden und beginnt ein neues Leben, als ihr totgeglaubter Ehemann wieder auftaucht.
Charles Dickens - GOING INTO SOCIETY – Erzählt von einem Kleinwüchsigen Zirkusartisten, der in einer Lotterie ein Vermögen gewinnt und Teil der feinen Gesellschaft werden will, nur um in allen seinen Träumen und Erwartungen enttäuscht zu werden.
Adelaide Anne Procter - THREE EVENINGS IN THE HOUSE – ist ein Gedicht, dass die Geschichte einer treuen Schwester erzählt, die ihr eigenes Leben für ihren Bruder aufgibt und von allen für gefühllos gehalten wird und letztendlich mit ansehen muss, wie die Witwe ihres Bruder ihre große Liebe heiratet, die sie für ihren Bruder aufgegeben hat.
Wilkie Collins - TROTTLE’S REPORT – Kommt endlich zur Sache, was im Haus gegenüber vor sich geht.
Diese Kooperation wirkt ein wenig gewollt. Die ersten drei Geschichten wirken wie nutzlose Lückenfüller. Nett, in sich geschlossen aber nicht wirklich notwendig, man hätte sie auch rauslassen können, ohne dass wirklich etwas fehlen würde. Wenn aber die Bestsellerautoren ihrer Zeit gemeinsam etwas schreieben, treibt das wohl die Auflage hoch und dürfte wohl ein Marketinggag gewesen sein.
Unterhaltsam, aber zu Recht nicht sonderlich bekannt.
April 23, 2017
I picked this book as a part of a weekend group read (with a dozen or so close bookish friends) that I am addicted to. Charles Dickens is one of my better liked authors and I love themes with older women who investigate mysteries, and seeing that this involved a haunted house gave it great charm.
Added to all this was the fact that it was a combined effort by four authors including Wilkie Colins and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom I am partial to.
But I can't say that I liked it much. My interest proponentially dwindled with the coming chapters, chapter 1 being the best of the lot, and the last chapter which revealed the facts behind the house which wasnt being let , the most dramatic.
All in all, a short and readable novel, and to me it doesn't seem like one among the famous works any of the authors, though I am unable to comment upon Anne Procter as I haven't read her works before.
Added to all this was the fact that it was a combined effort by four authors including Wilkie Colins and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom I am partial to.
But I can't say that I liked it much. My interest proponentially dwindled with the coming chapters, chapter 1 being the best of the lot, and the last chapter which revealed the facts behind the house which wasnt being let , the most dramatic.
All in all, a short and readable novel, and to me it doesn't seem like one among the famous works any of the authors, though I am unable to comment upon Anne Procter as I haven't read her works before.
May 7, 2009
This book was a lot of fun to listen to. Of course, Ruth Golding (LibriVox.org) is a wonderful reader, but the book itself is a real treat.
Four popular writers of the time: Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins and Adelaide Anne Procter each wrote a chapter of the book and Charles Dickens edited the entire story, making it fit together seamlessly as a whole.
It is about a house that has remained vacant for several years which as come to the notice of an elderly woman named Sophonisba. She wants to know why the house is vacant, which is what the various chapters set out to explain, through the histories of various tenants.
I enjoyed this novel and am again grateful to the volunteers at Librivox.org for making it available to me. It is another book I would never have heard of or read except I stumbled upon it through this website.
Four popular writers of the time: Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins and Adelaide Anne Procter each wrote a chapter of the book and Charles Dickens edited the entire story, making it fit together seamlessly as a whole.
It is about a house that has remained vacant for several years which as come to the notice of an elderly woman named Sophonisba. She wants to know why the house is vacant, which is what the various chapters set out to explain, through the histories of various tenants.
I enjoyed this novel and am again grateful to the volunteers at Librivox.org for making it available to me. It is another book I would never have heard of or read except I stumbled upon it through this website.
January 3, 2012
I am reading it as an e-book at Gutenberg Project.
Contents:
Over the Way
The Manchester Marriage
Going into Society
Three Evenings in the House
Trottle’s Report
Let at Last
Page 5:
All at once—in the first-floor window on my right—down in a low corner, at a hole in a blind or a shutter—I found that I was looking at a secret Eye.
Page 28:
“O, sir, you must go. You must not stop a minute. If he comes back he will kill you.”
Page 52:
Or, to put it in plainer terms still, the subject was no other than the mystery of the empty House.
Page 67:
To make short of a long story—and what story would not be long, coming from the lips of an old woman like me, unless it was made short by main force!—I bought the House.
Contents:
Over the Way
The Manchester Marriage
Going into Society
Three Evenings in the House
Trottle’s Report
Let at Last
Page 5:
All at once—in the first-floor window on my right—down in a low corner, at a hole in a blind or a shutter—I found that I was looking at a secret Eye.
Page 28:
“O, sir, you must go. You must not stop a minute. If he comes back he will kill you.”
Page 52:
Or, to put it in plainer terms still, the subject was no other than the mystery of the empty House.
Page 67:
To make short of a long story—and what story would not be long, coming from the lips of an old woman like me, unless it was made short by main force!—I bought the House.
September 30, 2013
Dickens era un genio della narrativa, sempre un passo più avanti, con idee originali, uno stile realistico e inconfondibile e una propensione a trovare scrittori quasi altrettanto talentuosi per realizzare progetti unici.
La casa sfitta è uno di questi suoi progetti, una sorta di contenitore – proprio come una casa sfitta sembra suggerire – da riempire di storie, scritte ciascuna da un autore diverso, con il suo personale stile e i suoi personaggi, variegati esempi di umanità. Il romanzo, o raccolta di racconti che dir si voglia, venne pubblicato per la prima volta nell’edizione natalizia della rivista «Household Words», diretta da Dickens.
Parliamo di raccolta di racconti perché, a parte l'introduzione, Al di là della strada, il capitolo Il rapporto di Trottle e l'epilogo, Finalmente affittata, possiamo benissimo considerare il racconto della Gaskell, Il Matrimonio di Manchester, quello di Dickens, Ingresso in Società e il breve poema della Procter, Tre sere nella casa, come delle storie indipendenti, costruite sì, seguendo un filo conduttore – il soggiorno per un breve periodo di tempo in 'quella' casa – ma che possono essere considerate degli stand-alone, al contrario del racconto di Collins, Il rapporto di Trottle, che richiama a sé tutti i fili della storia e, grazie al suo talento di scrittore sensazionalistico, riesce a sbrogliare la matassa dandoci un bandolo, un filo e anche una conclusione soddisfacente.
Infatti Il Matrimonio di Manchester era già stato tradotto in italiano nel 2010 da Marcella Maffi per la raccolta di Short Stories del gruppo editoriale l'Espresso e non avevo trovato alcuna difficoltà nel leggere questo racconto al di fuori della raccolta creata da Dickens e Collins, di cui non sapevo neanche facesse parte.
I due maestri della narrativa vittoriana costruiscono una cornice di mistero, forse anche un po' horror, per stuzzicare la curiosità del lettore. La signora Sophonisba, un'anziana benestante, si trasferisce a Londra prendendo in affitto una casa di fronte alla quale c'è, guarda caso, una casa sfitta. Sentendosi osservata da una misteriosa presenza nella casa e spaventata, la vecchia signora chiede al suo maggiordomo Trottle e al suo amico – nonché spasimante di sempre – Jarber di indagare. Nasce così una sorta di competizione fra i due uomini per cercare di accontentare la signora, con racconti che riguardano tutti gli inquilini del passato – e anche del presente – della casa misteriosa. Da qui i diversi racconti scritti separatamente da ciascuno degli autori coinvolti nel progetto.
Le due signore, Elizabeth Gaskell e Anne Procter, metteranno in risalto la miseria della donna vittoriana. Alice, la protagonista del Matrimonio di Manchester, si sposa due volte per pura necessità, la prima per sfuggire alle angherie della seconda moglie dello zio, ma mal tollerando le richieste di smancerie di Mr Frank, appassionatamente innamorato di lei; la seconda perché il suo pensionante, che ha scoperto di trovarsi molto bene a essere viziato da lei, la minaccia velatamente di abbandonare i suoi appartamenti e gettarla così nella miseria – con una figlia malata – se non accetterà la sua proposta. Il carattere più freddo di Mr Openshaw (“Openshaw non pretendeva da lei alcuna dimostrazione d'affetto. Anzi, ne sarebbe stato proprio disgustato. [...] La perenne richiesta di sguardi, carezze e parole d'amore, e l'interpretazione della loro assenza come assenza d'amore, erano stati la croce del suo precedente matrimonio”) è per lei una consolazione. Tuttavia Alice riesce ad amare teneramente solo i suoi figli e l’unica persona di cui si fida ciecamente è la sua cameriera Norah, come se gli uomini fossero un'entità separata, a cui si sottomette e da cui si sente dipendente, ma di cui diffida.
Bertha, la protagonista del breve poema di Anne Adelaide Procter, Tre sere nella casa, viene costretta a prendersi cura del fratello Herbert, sacrificando così la sua stessa felicità e rinunciando all'uomo che ama. Gli uomini, però, si sa, sono egoisti, e quando Herbert si innamorerà, non penserà minimamente alla sorella e al sacrificio fatto per lui.
In punto di morte, poi, Herbert chiederà a Bertha di prendersi cura di sua moglie, la cui gioventù porterà via a Bertha il suo sogno di felicità: sarà infatti costretta a vedere proprio quell'uomo che amava e a cui ha rinunciato sposare la sua giovane e bella cognata.
Il racconto di Dickens, Ingresso in Società, è una satira verso gli arricchiti che aspirano a entrare nelle alte sfere della Società, ma soprattutto verso i vampiri che alla Società stessa appartengono 'di diritto', con riferimenti neanche tanto velati nei confronti di Giorgio IV, che già ai tempi della "Reggenza" viveva secondo costumi dissoluti.
Infine il racconto di Wilkie Collins,Il rapporto di Trottle e il conseguente epilogo, Finalmente affittata – scritto a quattro mani con Dickens – servono a svelare il mistero, con ritrovamenti, improvvise scoperte di legami di parentela e l'immancabile lieto fine, come d'obbligo nel romanzo vittoriano, con l'abilità caratteristica che Collins dimostra in ogni suo scritto.
Com'è logico, ciascuno dei quattro racconti rivela la mano dell'autore, si può dire, anzi, che prologo ed epilogo siano chiaramente vergati da una quinta mano, quella nata dalla commistione degli stili dei due autori, poiché la linearità narrativa di Collins, pur carica di ironia, riesce a smorzare la frizzante satira di Dickens, spesso più ostica al lettore.
Un progetto ambizioso, ma perfettamente riuscito, perché realizzato dalle più talentuose penne vittoriane, per un piccolo gioiellino che, come dicono Valeria Mastroianni e Lorenza Ricci di Jo March, "riempie i tasselli mancanti di un continente letterario sommerso".
Potete leggere la recensione completa QUI
La casa sfitta è uno di questi suoi progetti, una sorta di contenitore – proprio come una casa sfitta sembra suggerire – da riempire di storie, scritte ciascuna da un autore diverso, con il suo personale stile e i suoi personaggi, variegati esempi di umanità. Il romanzo, o raccolta di racconti che dir si voglia, venne pubblicato per la prima volta nell’edizione natalizia della rivista «Household Words», diretta da Dickens.
Parliamo di raccolta di racconti perché, a parte l'introduzione, Al di là della strada, il capitolo Il rapporto di Trottle e l'epilogo, Finalmente affittata, possiamo benissimo considerare il racconto della Gaskell, Il Matrimonio di Manchester, quello di Dickens, Ingresso in Società e il breve poema della Procter, Tre sere nella casa, come delle storie indipendenti, costruite sì, seguendo un filo conduttore – il soggiorno per un breve periodo di tempo in 'quella' casa – ma che possono essere considerate degli stand-alone, al contrario del racconto di Collins, Il rapporto di Trottle, che richiama a sé tutti i fili della storia e, grazie al suo talento di scrittore sensazionalistico, riesce a sbrogliare la matassa dandoci un bandolo, un filo e anche una conclusione soddisfacente.
Infatti Il Matrimonio di Manchester era già stato tradotto in italiano nel 2010 da Marcella Maffi per la raccolta di Short Stories del gruppo editoriale l'Espresso e non avevo trovato alcuna difficoltà nel leggere questo racconto al di fuori della raccolta creata da Dickens e Collins, di cui non sapevo neanche facesse parte.
I due maestri della narrativa vittoriana costruiscono una cornice di mistero, forse anche un po' horror, per stuzzicare la curiosità del lettore. La signora Sophonisba, un'anziana benestante, si trasferisce a Londra prendendo in affitto una casa di fronte alla quale c'è, guarda caso, una casa sfitta. Sentendosi osservata da una misteriosa presenza nella casa e spaventata, la vecchia signora chiede al suo maggiordomo Trottle e al suo amico – nonché spasimante di sempre – Jarber di indagare. Nasce così una sorta di competizione fra i due uomini per cercare di accontentare la signora, con racconti che riguardano tutti gli inquilini del passato – e anche del presente – della casa misteriosa. Da qui i diversi racconti scritti separatamente da ciascuno degli autori coinvolti nel progetto.
Le due signore, Elizabeth Gaskell e Anne Procter, metteranno in risalto la miseria della donna vittoriana. Alice, la protagonista del Matrimonio di Manchester, si sposa due volte per pura necessità, la prima per sfuggire alle angherie della seconda moglie dello zio, ma mal tollerando le richieste di smancerie di Mr Frank, appassionatamente innamorato di lei; la seconda perché il suo pensionante, che ha scoperto di trovarsi molto bene a essere viziato da lei, la minaccia velatamente di abbandonare i suoi appartamenti e gettarla così nella miseria – con una figlia malata – se non accetterà la sua proposta. Il carattere più freddo di Mr Openshaw (“Openshaw non pretendeva da lei alcuna dimostrazione d'affetto. Anzi, ne sarebbe stato proprio disgustato. [...] La perenne richiesta di sguardi, carezze e parole d'amore, e l'interpretazione della loro assenza come assenza d'amore, erano stati la croce del suo precedente matrimonio”) è per lei una consolazione. Tuttavia Alice riesce ad amare teneramente solo i suoi figli e l’unica persona di cui si fida ciecamente è la sua cameriera Norah, come se gli uomini fossero un'entità separata, a cui si sottomette e da cui si sente dipendente, ma di cui diffida.
Bertha, la protagonista del breve poema di Anne Adelaide Procter, Tre sere nella casa, viene costretta a prendersi cura del fratello Herbert, sacrificando così la sua stessa felicità e rinunciando all'uomo che ama. Gli uomini, però, si sa, sono egoisti, e quando Herbert si innamorerà, non penserà minimamente alla sorella e al sacrificio fatto per lui.
In punto di morte, poi, Herbert chiederà a Bertha di prendersi cura di sua moglie, la cui gioventù porterà via a Bertha il suo sogno di felicità: sarà infatti costretta a vedere proprio quell'uomo che amava e a cui ha rinunciato sposare la sua giovane e bella cognata.
Il racconto di Dickens, Ingresso in Società, è una satira verso gli arricchiti che aspirano a entrare nelle alte sfere della Società, ma soprattutto verso i vampiri che alla Società stessa appartengono 'di diritto', con riferimenti neanche tanto velati nei confronti di Giorgio IV, che già ai tempi della "Reggenza" viveva secondo costumi dissoluti.
Infine il racconto di Wilkie Collins,Il rapporto di Trottle e il conseguente epilogo, Finalmente affittata – scritto a quattro mani con Dickens – servono a svelare il mistero, con ritrovamenti, improvvise scoperte di legami di parentela e l'immancabile lieto fine, come d'obbligo nel romanzo vittoriano, con l'abilità caratteristica che Collins dimostra in ogni suo scritto.
Com'è logico, ciascuno dei quattro racconti rivela la mano dell'autore, si può dire, anzi, che prologo ed epilogo siano chiaramente vergati da una quinta mano, quella nata dalla commistione degli stili dei due autori, poiché la linearità narrativa di Collins, pur carica di ironia, riesce a smorzare la frizzante satira di Dickens, spesso più ostica al lettore.
Un progetto ambizioso, ma perfettamente riuscito, perché realizzato dalle più talentuose penne vittoriane, per un piccolo gioiellino che, come dicono Valeria Mastroianni e Lorenza Ricci di Jo March, "riempie i tasselli mancanti di un continente letterario sommerso".
Potete leggere la recensione completa QUI
January 5, 2023
Relato dividido en seis partes escritas colaborativamente por Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell y Adelaide Anne Procter.
La historia trata sobre una casa que a pesar de estar en alquiler no tiene arrendatarios, lo que constituye un misterio que Sophonisba, que vive frente a la propiedad, trata de resolver encargándoles a su amigo Jarber y a su criado Trottle que averigüen las razones de por qué la casa no se logra arrendar.
En este afán de averiguar los secretos que hay tras esta misteriosa casa, se presentan seis capítulos, cada uno escrito por un escritor diferente; el primero y el último están escritos colaborativamente por Charles Dickens y Wilkie Collins; el segundo por Elizabeth Gaskell; el tercero por Dickens en solitario; el cuarto por Adelaide Anne Procter y el quinto por Wilkie Collins.
Esta peculiar forma de colaboración y los nombres involucrados fue lo que me interesó por leer este relato que, en sí mismo, constituye una obra un tanto detectivesca y de misterio. Tiene algunos altibajos en mi opinión, aunque el resultado final es bastante meritorio. Al final dudé entre poner 3 o 4 estrellas; me decidí por lo último aunque bien podría ser un 3.5. Me gustó, aunque no la considero una obra sobresaliente.
La historia trata sobre una casa que a pesar de estar en alquiler no tiene arrendatarios, lo que constituye un misterio que Sophonisba, que vive frente a la propiedad, trata de resolver encargándoles a su amigo Jarber y a su criado Trottle que averigüen las razones de por qué la casa no se logra arrendar.
En este afán de averiguar los secretos que hay tras esta misteriosa casa, se presentan seis capítulos, cada uno escrito por un escritor diferente; el primero y el último están escritos colaborativamente por Charles Dickens y Wilkie Collins; el segundo por Elizabeth Gaskell; el tercero por Dickens en solitario; el cuarto por Adelaide Anne Procter y el quinto por Wilkie Collins.
Esta peculiar forma de colaboración y los nombres involucrados fue lo que me interesó por leer este relato que, en sí mismo, constituye una obra un tanto detectivesca y de misterio. Tiene algunos altibajos en mi opinión, aunque el resultado final es bastante meritorio. Al final dudé entre poner 3 o 4 estrellas; me decidí por lo último aunque bien podría ser un 3.5. Me gustó, aunque no la considero una obra sobresaliente.
April 24, 2017
4-star Review:
A House to Let by Charles Dickens
This novel, compiled by Charles Dickens and co-authored by Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins, and Anne Procter, is a crisp and vivid account of a mysterious house in London that hasn't been let in years. Each chapter reinforces one of the many reasons why it has remained uninhabitable, with the actual mystery only unfolding in the end. The main and supporting characters were well-written and impacted the plot substantially.
Since this is my first anthology read, 0.5 stars for the format. I've often heard that an anthology is a publication of stand-alone works. However, what impressed me most about A House to Let is how four authors with disparate writing styles, collaborated on a project, to render the plot's continuity and coherency unaltered. It would probably mean a lot of meetings and brain-storming (read letter exchanges) sessions between them. Regardless, the outcome was top-notch.
I'm going to be awfully partial toward Elizabeth Gaskell's Manchester Marriage when I say that it indeed was the winning tale among all the other chapters in the book for me. All other chapters piqued my interest at varying degrees.
I'm thankful to all my friends who volunteered to group read this with me. Special mention to Ruth Golding and LibriVox's superlative effort to bring the narrative to life despite certain parts proving to be dreary.
A House to Let by Charles Dickens
This novel, compiled by Charles Dickens and co-authored by Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins, and Anne Procter, is a crisp and vivid account of a mysterious house in London that hasn't been let in years. Each chapter reinforces one of the many reasons why it has remained uninhabitable, with the actual mystery only unfolding in the end. The main and supporting characters were well-written and impacted the plot substantially.
Since this is my first anthology read, 0.5 stars for the format. I've often heard that an anthology is a publication of stand-alone works. However, what impressed me most about A House to Let is how four authors with disparate writing styles, collaborated on a project, to render the plot's continuity and coherency unaltered. It would probably mean a lot of meetings and brain-storming (read letter exchanges) sessions between them. Regardless, the outcome was top-notch.
I'm going to be awfully partial toward Elizabeth Gaskell's Manchester Marriage when I say that it indeed was the winning tale among all the other chapters in the book for me. All other chapters piqued my interest at varying degrees.
I'm thankful to all my friends who volunteered to group read this with me. Special mention to Ruth Golding and LibriVox's superlative effort to bring the narrative to life despite certain parts proving to be dreary.
November 8, 2022
ENGLISH: Two stories, one poem by Adelaide Anne Procter, and a frame story. The best for me was "The Manchester marriage," by Elizabeth Gaskell. The worst "The dwarf," by Dickens & Collins. In the middle, the frame story, by Collins & Dickens.
ESPAÑOL: Dos cuentos, un poema de Adelaide Anne Procter y un cuento-marco. Lo mejor para mí fue "El matrimonio de Manchester", de Elizabeth Gaskell. Lo peor, "El enano", de Dickens & Collins. En medio, el cuento-marco, de Collins & Dickens.
ESPAÑOL: Dos cuentos, un poema de Adelaide Anne Procter y un cuento-marco. Lo mejor para mí fue "El matrimonio de Manchester", de Elizabeth Gaskell. Lo peor, "El enano", de Dickens & Collins. En medio, el cuento-marco, de Collins & Dickens.
November 13, 2009
I especially liked Elizabeth Gaskell's contribution, The Manchester Marriage.
April 16, 2024
Audible sale (#39 of 40) 4 hours 19 min. Narrated by Geoffrey Guiliano (B)
3.5 stars
This short story is a compilation headed by Victorian writers Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins (The Woman In White) who together wrote the first and last chapters. The second (Part 1 and 2) is background to the overall plot and was written by Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South) and was the best part of the book, IMO. There is also a short but morose poem as "a chapter." The next chapter was written by Dickens and was my least favorite part of the story, including the morose poem.
An elderly lady heads to London for a few months and rents lodgings across from a rather neglected house directly across from hers. The rundown house, for some unknown reason, can not be rented (let). The old spinster becomes obsessed by the house, and she tasks an old suitor and her butler with the task of finding out the secret she is certain the house is hiding. This leads to some humorous rivalry between the two men. There is indeed a secret hidden in the house, but you'll have read the story to discover it for yourself.
3.5 stars
This short story is a compilation headed by Victorian writers Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins (The Woman In White) who together wrote the first and last chapters. The second (Part 1 and 2) is background to the overall plot and was written by Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South) and was the best part of the book, IMO. There is also a short but morose poem as "a chapter." The next chapter was written by Dickens and was my least favorite part of the story, including the morose poem.
An elderly lady heads to London for a few months and rents lodgings across from a rather neglected house directly across from hers. The rundown house, for some unknown reason, can not be rented (let). The old spinster becomes obsessed by the house, and she tasks an old suitor and her butler with the task of finding out the secret she is certain the house is hiding. This leads to some humorous rivalry between the two men. There is indeed a secret hidden in the house, but you'll have read the story to discover it for yourself.
September 9, 2024
3.83⭐
This collaborative short story brings together the creative talents of four of the Victorian era's foremost fiction writers, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Procter each of which contributed a section to the work. When an elderly woman, Miss Sophonisba, notices signs of activity at a supposedly abandoned dilapidated house across from her own lodging, she devises a scheme to get to the bottom of the mysterious goings-on by employing the efforts of an elderly admirer, Jabez Jarber, and her butler, Trottle, to discover what is occurring within the mysterious "Houe to Let".
Over the Way by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins 3.25⭐
The Manchester Marriage by Elizabeth Gaskell 4⭐
Going into Society by Charles Dickens 3⭐
Three Evenings in the House by Adelaide Anne Procter 4⭐
Trottle’s Report by Wilkie Collins 4.25⭐
Let at Last by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins 4.5⭐
This collaborative short story brings together the creative talents of four of the Victorian era's foremost fiction writers, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Procter each of which contributed a section to the work. When an elderly woman, Miss Sophonisba, notices signs of activity at a supposedly abandoned dilapidated house across from her own lodging, she devises a scheme to get to the bottom of the mysterious goings-on by employing the efforts of an elderly admirer, Jabez Jarber, and her butler, Trottle, to discover what is occurring within the mysterious "Houe to Let".
Over the Way by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins 3.25⭐
The Manchester Marriage by Elizabeth Gaskell 4⭐
Going into Society by Charles Dickens 3⭐
Three Evenings in the House by Adelaide Anne Procter 4⭐
Trottle’s Report by Wilkie Collins 4.25⭐
Let at Last by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins 4.5⭐
May 29, 2020
What fun! A Victorian mystery/melodrama written by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and the poet Adelaide Ann Procter. The combined charms of these authors produced a quirky little 90-page concoction that was just what I needed: a quick trip into Victoriana without committing to a 700-page masterpiece.
I didn’t know this book existed until I found the charming BBC Radio Drama: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x...
The free ebook is available at gutenberg.org and on Kindle.
I didn’t know this book existed until I found the charming BBC Radio Drama: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x...
The free ebook is available at gutenberg.org and on Kindle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews