What is your earliest memory of Charles Dickens? Tell us about it here.

[Sara]

I love that you came to Dickens at a young age, Theresa, as did I. I wonder if they still show films in school. We loved having them. I remember a science film that they based on Oliver Twist, with Fagan as a bad germ or something. I just remember that I hadn't read Oliver Twist at that point and went immediately to the library and checked it out.

[Dee]

I have noticed that both Wendy and Sara met Dickens through the musical Oliver because that's also where I got my first hint. I was in the 4th grade when the film came out. My mother bought the lp album; my younger sister and I learned the lyrics and delighted in serenading our father on auto trips. Mother had a lovely voice and joined us. Unfortunately, I didn't know it was based on a novel. 😔 Oliver Twist is my Dickens choice for 2025. Jean-- thanks for the link to the thread!

God bless our school systems for including Great Expectations in the mandatory reading curriculum. I wish I'd have had a creative teacher like the one Wendy had to spark my imagination. I might have enjoyed Pip and Miss Haversham's story more. I'm sure Wendy's class enjoyed the wedding cake! 😋

In my late teens, I fell in love with A Tale of Two Cities! ❤️
What a pleasure to reminisce with others about our introductions to Charles Dickens.
--Dee

[Sara]

Oh, no, Dee. I did not meet Dickens through the musical Oliver. I read him many years before that was released. I'm very glad to know that Great Expectations was still being taught when you were in school, since you are much younger than I. I don't think it is part of the curriculum anymore.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Dee, I love travelling down memory lane with you! 🥰

[John]

Wendy wrote: "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 Olive..."

I love this. A Miss Havisham Wedding Cake.

My first real experience with Dickens was Great Expectations. I say real because I do recall A Christmas Carol when I was under ten, but I was a little older when reading Great Expectations and was able to absorb and appreciate what Dickens accomplished. Uncle Pumblechook and his multiplication tables struck me as finding Dickens as a person who understood kids and their relation to adults.