Dickensians! discussion
Just About Dickens
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What is your earliest memory of Charles Dickens? Tell us about it here.
Bionic Jean wrote: "(Lois is standing outside the Charles Dickens museum in Doughty Place, London, in her profile pic, by the way everyone!)"I would recognise London everywhere - except the East End, I believe :)
I wasted my time going to Foyles and a Beatles merch shop and Madame Tussaud. I would love to visit England again. I will go there one day, but financed by the (chump?) change in my pocket, unless inflation hits the rupee again? Oy vey.
I'd be happy to share! I remember I was in 8th grade, and I was always looking for the next book to read at the school library. I picked up Great Expectations without knowing that Charles Dickens was a famous author. I am not sure what attracted me to it, but I remember really enjoying it, especially the beginning with Pip walking in the marshes. It really scared me at the time. I remember though deciding that it was the best book I had ever read and up till today, I say it is my favorite book. Looking back, I wonder how much I actually understood since I was pretty young at the time and I still felt relatively new to the language. Recently, I decided to pick the book back up for a second read since the marshes created a great impression on me the first time around. It's nice that I can't remember the ending, so I can enjoy it as if it was the first time :)
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And isn't it great when you forget just enough things about a book you know is fantastic, to make it fresh the second time?
It really is! Bleak House is so memorable that I wonder if I will rediscover it decades from now or if it will stay more fresh in my memory as the years pass by.
My first experience of Dickens was through the 1968 musical Oliver! which was broadcast every Christmas, back when there were few channels to choose from. Not that we ever complained! I also learned many of the songs for a primary school production. My first time reading a Dickens story was Boxing Day 1988. My aunt used to host us every Boxing Day and we'd have a full Christmas dinner. My gift from my aunt was a lovely hardbacked, abridged edition of Oliver Twist (illustrated by Eric Kincaid). I spent the whole visit (when not eating dinner) in an empty upstairs bedroom reading the book and managed to finish just before we had to leave (perhaps they were waiting for me to come down!). I still have the book, only one of two ever gifted to me as a child. I even brought it with me when I emigrated 20 years ago, only for it to unfortunately become water damaged this year. Here's hoping my memory of it will keep in better shape!
I remember the days when there were few channels to choose from!I saw the movie Oliver on a high school trip to the nearest city that had a movie theatre, London, Ontario.
I read the book Oliver Twist after having it on my shelf for over thirty years! It was good!
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There's an Eric Kincaid illustrated edition of Oliver Twist? Wow - what a coincidence! A couple of days ago I posted my review of his illustrations for "A Christmas Carol", (I have several different editions) and gave it five stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
They are so good! And I particularly liked the fact that all Charles Dickens's text was there. It wasn't retold. That won't have been possible with "Oliver Twist" - but I'll still have a look out for it - thank you!
And welcome to "Dickensians!" Do tell us a little about yourself here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
if you like 😊
My earliest memory was gagging on A TALE OF TWO CITIES in Grade 10 English class. I hated the book, I hated the way it was taught, I hated everything about it. So much so, in fact, that even though I became an avid reader as an adult after university graduation, I didn't care to attempt a Charles Dickens' novel until I was 40 years old. And I definitely came in through the side door, LOL! My first Charles Dickens' reads were NICHOLAS NICKLEBY which, to my surprise, thrilled me. Then I had a rip at DAVID COPPERFIELD, MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT and THE PICKWICK PAPERS. Now I'm a solid fan but my memories of disgust from high school were SO strong that I still didn't have the courage to try A TALE OF TWO CITIES again until I was in my 50s.Sigh! And I don't think my experience of forced Dickens' reading in high school is unique by any means.
We read A Tale of Two Cities in Grade 11 English class, and I think my experience is very similar to yours, Paul.When I started reading Dickens years later as an adult, I realized what an entertaining writer he was and have gone on to read a lot of his novels and short stories.
The first book by Charles Dickens that I read and loved was Oliver Twist. It was very long ago and I believe I have now read it twice.
As I noted way back in message 3, Oliver Twist (which I loved!) was my first introduction to Dickens' work, too! I was about eight years old when I read it.Having discovered Dickens for myself, and already appreciating him, probably prepared me better than most of my junior high school classmates were for Great Expectations when we studied it in English class. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and don't recall any real quibbles with the way the teacher taught it. But I do think it's a mistake to force school kids to read whole novels they may not find congenial, and may not be ready to fully appreciate. Yes, they should be exposed to the work of writers who have stood the test of time; but IMO it's best to make the required readings of short forms only (stories, essays, etc.) and let them choose the whole books they read for themselves. (And, of course, nowadays teachers can assign them to watch faithful dramatic adaptations of longer works!) That was the approach I adopted for literature classes when Barb and I were homeschooling our girls.
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When I was at school, I did study English Literature as one of my options, but it was literally only the literature by British writers. And even more surprising, Charles Dickens was not on the curriculum as he was not considered "literary" enough!
So apart from dramatisations and so on, it was not until I was in my 20s that I discovered him all for myself - like some here. And I had no bad experiences to jinx me. I found him hilarious - and was promptly smitten 😍
I'm sure some teachers can do a good job of including certain passages, but as Werner says, it needs to be selective. Do you remember our first group read? It was the most accessible (in my view) and his own favourite: David Copperfield. But that is also his longest novel, and it's unlikely any schools would include it as part of their syllabus, because of that reason. Nicholas Nickleby is also a great first read - but also presents the examining board with the same problem.
A Tale of Two Cities is often chosen, as it is a shorter one, but although some find its savagery thrilling, many would not enjoy it to start with. It does have humour - a little - but you have to know the author quite well before you can recognise the bitter sardonic tones in this way.
I'm so glad you rose above your bad experiences, Paul and Rosemarie.
Bionic Jean wrote: "So apart from dramatisations and so on, it was not until I was in my 20s that I discovered him all for myself - like some here."I'll bet if videos of good movie or TV adaptations were used in the English classroom, many students would be encouraged to try reading the text for themselves.
I'm honestly not sure if it was Mickey's Christmas Carol, or Oliver! (the Musical), though I'm leaning to Oliver because my family had the soundtrack on Record, I can still remember as a very little boy singing "food, Glorious Food!" And Mr. Bumble singing Boy for Sale.
The first book I read by Dickens was A Christmas Carol. The next 2 I read were Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, the combination of which cemented him as my favorite author. I'm currently working on my own audiobook narration and commentary on Our Mutual Friend, my personal favorite of his "long form" novels. I plan to eventually narrate all of his novels. Next on my cue is Oliver Twist, then doing a box set of all his Holiday works... Then maybe Dombey & Son?
Paul, I had a similar experience in High School with George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway. I hated how these were taught (same teacher, same school year). I was lucky that another Orwell book came up in University, just a few years later, and I really enjoyed it, went back to the first and enjoyed it, too.Ernest Hemingway, on the other hand, I avoided until maybe 10 years ago when I thought I should give him a fair, non-High School try. He's hit and miss for me. Some works I like; others not so much. But I'm glad that I'm occasionally reading his works.
Benjamin, I love Oliver!, the musical. We could probably sing Food, Glorious Food together. I think I know most of the lyrics. LOL!
Rosemarie wrote: "I read the book Oliver Twist after having it on my shelf for over thirty years!"You are not alone, it also took me over 30 years to finally get round to reading the unabridged edition! I'm hoping to get a few Dickens titles in for 2023. Happy New Year!
My first exposure to Dickens' oeuvre would have been watching a cartoon version of Christmas Carol as a child, although I was probably not aware of its author. In school we had to read A Tale of Two Cities, not the best entry point to Dickens, lacking the humor of many of his other works, it was badly taught and it put me off Dickens for 20 or so years until the Book Club I was in chose Great Expectations to read one month and I loved it.
It was Great Expectations. It was assigned in school, and I HATED IT (after only reading a few chapters). So, I read a summary that got me through the exam, and I was happy. Fast forward dozens of years. I’m a middle aged adult and decided to try it again. 5*****, easily. But I also have a bit of a funny story to tell about this.
At the time of my second reading, I was into playing pub trivia with my friends weekly. We had an amazing team: Me - literature/arts; Dave - sports/backup to me on literature; Megan - science/geography; Jesse- history. We were unbeatable.
But one week when I was reading Great Expectations, this question came up: (view spoiler). Well, I knew the first two but hadn’t gotten to the last one yet. SPOILED BY PUB TRIVIA.
Paula W wrote: "But one week when I was reading Great Expectations, this question came up: (view spoiler). Well, I knew the first two but hadn’t gotten to the last one yet. SPOILED BY PUB TRIVIA..."Oh no! I enjoyed the story, the pub quizzes sound like fun! Good to hear another endorsement for Great Expectations, as it's one I've yet to read.
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Wow, good question! I am not sure if it was watching The Christmas Carol or the Oliver! musical movie, but I am quite sure it was one of those. I'm quite sure I saw those before I read my first Dickens book. I don't remember how old I was when I started reading a few of them, but fairly young for Great Expectations (that was one of the first ones I read, but it might not be the very first--it would have been one of the ones my parents had on their shelves.)However, it is very possible we had one of his other holiday books and my parents read it to me since I can't remember everything they read to us. My only memories of my dad reading, and I know he did it longer than this, were when I was 4 and 5 and he read us 2 books of the Alice in Wonderland books and 2 of the Wizard of Oz books because of where we were living.
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I'm never sure about my first encounter either. In a way I seem to have always known the story of A Christmas Carol.
Bionic Jean wrote: "What great memories, Karin! I'm never sure about my first encounter either. In a way I seem to have always known the story of A Christmas Carol."
Yes, with that very old film that used to play on TV every year--that might have been my first one, but it's hard to say because of the film Oliver!
In any event, that musical spoiled the novel a wee bit, but not completely, of course, but then musicals based on books are always greatly changed to make them work in that sort of a production.
Definitely A Muppets Christmas Carol haha
Laura Cort wrote: "Definitely A Muppets Christmas Carol haha"Ah, the younger half of our group :)! This year my husband and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary.
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Bionic Jean wrote: "I first saw "Oliver!" the musical film about a month ago!"While I also have never watched the Muppets, I'm shocked at your Oliver! revelation... How is that possible, Jean?!
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The Charles Dickens stage production I wanted to see was the massive one of Nicholas Nickleby in 1980, by the Royal Shakespeare Company. It was 8½ hours long, and performed in two parts. Part 1 was 4 hours with one interval of 15 minutes. Part 2 was 4½ hours with two intervals of 12 minutes. A starry cast, with Roger Rees in the title role. How his stamina held out I don't know - he was on stage for virtually every scene!
I've always regretted not being there, as I worked in London at the time. But last year I finally got to see it on CD 😊 And it captured the theatrical experience beautifully.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I'm not sure Jane... it might date from knowing so many school productions of "Oliver!" that I never wanted to sit down and watch the film of the musical! Ah, that makes sense. I was thinking back to my childhood where we couldn't really escape it around Christmas time (ours was the type of home where the TV was always on).
I had no idea about the 8½ hour Nicholas Nickleby stage production, Roger Rees must have had amazing staying power! I'm glad you eventually got to enjoy the experience, Jean. 😊
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I think it was the first ever programme on BBC3, and broadcast live from the theatre.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I'm not sure Jane... it might date from knowing so many school productions of "Oliver!" that I never wanted to sit down and watch the film of the musical! And I used to go to the theatre a lot, but..."Ah, school productions can really be a turn-off for musicals, so I understand.
I personally am not keen on watching filmed stage productions--when something is on a stage I want to be there live so I can look at who ore what I choose to. It's one of the reasons I won't watch filmed opera, not even the NY Met ones on the big screen. This goes for orchestras, etc, as well, so I'll just listen and not watch, unless it's my son and I know he's going to have some featured parts plus I can actually see him. (he's a graduate student and going to school too far for us to go in person.)
As is probably true for a lot of people, my first exposure to Dickens' work was through adaptations seen on TV. The first was almost certainly the Scrooge film with Albert Finney in the title role. The song I remember after 50+ years is "Thank you very much."After that, it was Nicholas Nickleby on public TV in the early '80s. I confess that Roger Rees was much more interesting to me than the story, at the time. Looking it up online, apparently this version of the story started as a 9-hour stage play performed over two evenings. Wow--how demanding, on both the performers and the audience!
I don't know that I've ever finished a Dickens novel. I had Great Expectations assigned in college twice, and didn't finish it either time. I may have started "A Christmas Carol" once, many years ago, and didn't get far with it. This group may well see my first completion with Oliver Twist. I'm glad to have the rather leisurely-paced Dickensians! group read as a motivation.
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Oh yes, the stage version of Nicholas Nickleby is marvellous! I'm sure I've written about this before ... (maybe in the adaptations thread) It was the first ever broadcast on BBC 2 - and live from the National Theatre in London! I would dearly have loved to be in the audience, but at last we now have the DVD. For years it was far too expensive but it was a surprise birthday present for me last year. Such a tour de force for Roger Rees as you say, as he was on the stage for almost the entire time!
It's remarkably close to the book too 😊 I love it!
And I do hope you finish Oliver Twist with us ... and then go on to read many more.
My earliest Dickens encounter, if you count it, was being exposed to a song from the musical Oliver! It was a school choir performance, and my dad explained a little of the story to me, to go with the song, I think. After that, like many Americans, my next exposure was to A Christmas Carol. I think it was the 1951 version, with Alastair Sim.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044008/
Beth wrote: "As is probably true for a lot of people, my first exposure to Dickens' work was through adaptations seen on TV. The first was almost certainly the Scrooge film with Albert Finney in the title role...."I also really like the song "Thank you very much" and how the meaning changes between the time the song is first introduced and the end of the film. The song is probably my favorite part of the film although I love whole movie.
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I do find it amazing that so many remember the first time they were aware of Charles Dickens, or one of his stories 😊!
I remember how my elder sister once carried her abridged copy of David Copperfield on a road trip and devoured the whole book within four hours - not a word from her. I was so impressed (and not a little jealous if I'm being honest) that I nicked her copy and copied her. Oh the discussions we had for days after!
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Hey - and welcome to "Dickensians!" Do introduce yourself LINK HERE if you like, so we can get to know you a little 😊
I love reading everyone’s stories here of how they first encountered Charles Dickens. So far, I may have been the youngest child in our group thanks to my dear father! I’ve told this story several years ago but here it is again.Every December, before I learned to read, my father would sit my small family down in our tiny living room and he would read to us the original A Christmas Carol. No pictures, just my dad reading a Stave every night before Christmas! My father had a deep bass voice and he loved to act out all the parts, including Scrooge and all the ghosts! It was so enchanting and exciting!
I remember those evenings and I remember the name Charles Dickens before I could read! Other families might have been reading the Bible, but for my dad it was Charles Dickens his two daughters needed to learn!
My dad did not like TV and would not let me see the television version of The Christmas Carol till the mid-60’s, but I was taught television was never to be substituted for a real book!
💗📖🎄
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I know, remembering my dad reading to me like that brings tears to my eyes!
That's a beautiful memory, Lee. thanks for sharing it with us.
Lee G wrote: "I love reading everyone’s stories here of how they first encountered Charles Dickens. So far, I may have been the youngest child in our group thanks to my dear father! I’ve told this story several ..."That's a great memory.
My first memory of encountering Dickens was when I was very young, perhaps about five. I have vivid memories of being awed and somewhat terrified by certain scenes in the movie version of the Oliver musical, specifically the bit where Fagin's jewels are sinking into the mud at the end. Also, the song "Who will buy this wonderful morning" must have stuck with me. Recently I happened to hear the song for the first time in over 3 decades and many childhood memories came rushing back. I think my mother must have loved that song. I finally read the book about ten years ago -- it's very different from the musical...My first "real" encounter with Dickens was in freshman class English where we were assigned to read Great Expectations. Unlike most of the class, I really enjoyed it! I made a "Ms. Havisham's Wedding Cake" as part of an assignment to bring to school (and yes it was edible haha).
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Oliver Twist was our last Big Read, and we discovered lots of interesting information and surprising subtext during the 3 months we spent on it. Do have a read of our threads if you like: LINK HERE
For me it has to be the abridged Great Expectations: Abridged Edition that was available to kids through Scholastic Books I think it was - I was in elementary school - probable 5th or 6th Grade - this was the mid-1960s. Mom had given me money to buy a few books from the catalogue circulated at school and that was one I bought to read over the summer. I took it to 4-H Camp with me for the week I was there to read. I didn't finish it until I got home as there was a strict lights out policy which I didn't really have at home, LOL. From there I at some point read a similarly abridged David Copperfield: Abridged Edition also from Scholastic.
But my next strongest memory is in Junior High School, the school showed the film of A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sims as Scrooge. I was mesmerized.
I'm a very serious francophile and in my late teens fell in love with A Tale of Two Cities. It's still one of my favorites.
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Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
David Copperfield: Abridged Edition (other topics)Great Expectations: Abridged Edition (other topics)
A Tale of Two Cities (other topics)
Oliver Twist (other topics)
Oliver Twist (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Roger Rees (other topics)
Roger Rees (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
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Thanks for sharing this. (Lois is standing outside the Charles Dickens museum in Doughty Place, London, in her profile pic, by the way everyone!)