Background, resources, reading schedule

[Jonathan]

Here is the proposed reading schedule for Nicholas Nickleby. We will be covering two monthly serials, as they first appeared, per week and finishing in early September.

July 1-7 Ch. 1-7
July 8-14 Ch. 8-14
July 15-21 Ch. 15-20
July 22-28 Ch. 21-26
July 29-Aug 4 Ch. 27-33
Aug 5-11 Ch. 34-39
Aug 12-18 Ch. 40-45
Aug 19-25 Ch. 46-51
Aug 26-Sep 1 Ch. 52-58
Sep 2-8 Ch. 59-65

[Tristram]

Thanks, Jonathan, for posting the reading schedule, which makes me realize that I should either slow down a bit, which is quite difficult with this book, or make some notes again, which is also difficult because it would mean I had to slow down.

I think this schedule is so generously timed that it might even offer people the chance to read Nicholas Nickleby in addition to any non-Dickensian book they might happen to be dealing with at the moment. This might result in more people joining the discussions and sharing their thoughts.

So I'm really looking forward to this light-hearted summer read!

[Everyman]

Is anybody else as far behind the schedule as I am? I should be up to Chapter 43 by now. Nowhere near that.

[Kim]

I'm on Chapter 42, but it's Saturday, so I'll spend a lot of the day getting the music ready for tomorrow morning, so you should be able to catch up. :-}

[Martha]

I'm behind, Everyman. Hoping to catch up soon.

[Lucy]

Yep. I'm remembering why I've abandoned Nicholas Nickleby before. (Not that I will this time--it's just dragging out). I find I'm more interested in what happens to Kate and she is offstage at the moment, where I am. I liked better Rafael Sabatini's treatment of a young man stumbling into a theater company in Scaramouche. I know, however, that Nicholas's adventures on the boards are a vicarious fantasy, partly lived out, by young Dickens himself, who was still drawn to the stage and developing himself as actor, playwright, and producer. He of course keeps returning to theater off and on throughout his life, notably in "The Frozen Deep," where he fatefully cast Nelly Ternan, and in his own dramatic readings.

Chesterton said that Nicholas Nickleby was Dickens's first attempt at drawing "a proper and dignified romantic hero; which means of course a very chivalrous young donkey....a proper, formal, and ceremonial hero. He has no psychology; he has not even any particular character; but he is made deliberately a hero..." Yep, that all rings true for me. He seems like a shoehorned hero and not at all what Dickens is best at. Nicholas's propensity to get into fights seems the most real thing about him--he's a young hothead, even when his cause is justified. We inevitably make the comparison back to Oliver Twist, and I still hold to the minority view on him, since he evoked more real feeling from me than Nicholas does. I know there is so much more to the book than Nicholas--Smike, Mrs. Nickleby, Ralph, and so on--so I will persevere to the end... I'm enjoying reading everyone's comments as they read (spoilers never bother me), so thanks to everyone for their discussions.

[Jonathan]

I am almost to Chapter 40. It took me over 7 days to move and get settled, so it threw me behind a bit.

[Tristram]

I think I am going to finish the book in the course of the week. I am reading Collins's Armadale at the same time and I am baffled by the contrast between Dickens, who may have a blunderbuss of a plot, but whose language is soooooo brilliant, whose wit is exuberant and whose eye for detail astonishing, and Collins, whose focus is plot, but whose language is, to say the least, wordy, who takes himself and his story far too seriously, which invites the reader to laugh all the same, at his expense, and who really drains my patience.

Reading both books, the exuberant and sparkling NN and the plodding Armadale at the same time is really unfair to Collins.

[Kim]

From The Letters of Charles Dickens:

"Petersham, July 26th, 1839.


My dear Macready,

Fix your visit for whenever you please. It can never give us anything but delight to see you, and it is better to look forward to such a pleasure than to look back upon it, as the last gratification is enjoyable all our lives, and the first for a few short stages in the journey.

I feel more true and cordial pleasure than I can express to you in the request you have made. Anything which can serve to commemorate our friendship and to keep the recollection of it alive among our children is, believe me, and ever will be, most deeply prized by me. I accept the office with hearty and fervent satisfaction; and, to render this pleasant bond between us the more complete, I must solicit you to become godfather to the last and final branch of a genteel small family of three which I am told may be looked for in that auspicious month when Lord Mayors are born and guys prevail. This I look upon as a bargain between us, and I have shaken hands with you in spirit[25] upon it. Family topics remind me of Mr. Kenwigs. As the weather is wet, and he is about to make his last appearance on my little stage, I send Mrs. Macready an early proof of the next number, containing an account of his baby's progress.

I am going to send you something else on Monday—a tragedy. Don't be alarmed. I didn't write it, nor do I want it acted. A young Scotch lady whom I don't know (but she is evidently very intelligent and accomplished) has sent me a translation of a German play, soliciting my aid and advice in the matter of its publication. Among a crowd of Germanisms, there are many things in it which are so very striking, that I am sure it will amuse you very much. At least I think it will; it has me. I am going to send it back to her—when I come to Elstree will be time enough; and meantime, if you bestow a couple of hours upon it, you will not think them thrown away.

It's a large parcel, and I must keep it here till somebody goes up to town and can book it by the coach. I warrant it, large as it looks, readable in two hours; and I very much want to know what you think of the first act, and especially the opening, which seems to me quite famous. The metre is very odd and rough, but now and then there's a wildness in it which helps the thing very much; and altogether it has left a something on my mind which I can't get rid of.

Mrs. Dickens joins with me in kindest regards to yourself, Mrs., and Miss Macready. And I am always,

My dear Macready,
Faithfully and truly yours.


P.S.—A dreadful thought has just occurred to me—that this is a quadruple letter, and that Elstree may not be within the twopenny post. Pray Heaven my fears are unfounded."