Dombey, Chapters 55 - 57

[Linda]

Tristram wrote: "Actually, Linda, if Old Sol got hit by a train, everything would be fine with me because I thought that the railway is a symbol of progress and change in the novel, and we all know that Old Sol was hopelessly old-fashioned."

Oh, now that is sad. Funny, but sad.

[Peter]

Linda wrote: "Joy wrote: "Also, Hooray, Uncle Sol lives. There are a few chapters left but I'm pretty sure he is safe now."

And yes, there are a few chapters left still. If Uncle Sol ends up getting hit by a t..."

Ouch ; -)

[Peter]

Tristram wrote: "Peter wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Peter wrote: "These chapters provide so much; we have drama, excitement, partings and death as well as reunions and new beginnings.

First, to Carker's death. He i..."

Tristram

Without being ghoulish (well maybe a wee bit so) it might be interesting to track how Dickens dispatches his most odious characters. You have got us off to a fine start.

[Peter]

Joy wrote: "Also, Hooray, Uncle Sol lives. There are a few chapters left but I'm pretty sure he is safe now."

Yes. With Sol Gill back home The Midshipman may finally be renamed The Jolly Midshipman.

[Everyman]

Peter wrote: " The meaning/symbolism of Carker's death-by-train is not clear to me either."

Perhaps Dickens was saying that he was still only a villain in training.

[Everyman]

Joy wrote: "Also, Hooray, Uncle Sol lives. "

You expected anything else? Sometimes Dickens is simply too predictable.

[Peter]

Everyman wrote: "Peter wrote: " The meaning/symbolism of Carker's death-by-train is not clear to me either."

Perhaps Dickens was saying that he was still only a villain in training."

Your comment derailed me from chair. Well done!

[Kim]

Everyman wrote: "Peter wrote: " Did Kyd illustrate any other Dickens novels? I think I hear the groans already

More than groans. Cries of outright agony.

I am sure that Kyd was simply living up to his name. Eve..."

Here you go, unfortunately we've already missed some of these, but I can go back and insert them if you really want to see them. :-}

"Frederick G. Kitton in the second appendix of his exhaustive survey of Dickens and illustration in the nineteenth century catalogues the work of some of the best known "extra" illustrators.....

Among the most prolific of the "extra illustrators," according to Kitton, was J. Clayton Clarke ("Kyd"), whose Characters of Charles Dickens probably exceeds 330 drawings; a collection of these, 241 in total, done in water-colours and signed with the monogram J. C. C., was auctioned for ten guineas in 1890.

The Fleet Street Magazine published a few of Kyd's studies "of the leading personages in the novels" (233) in 1887. Honouring Kyd's achievement, in the Dickens bicentennial year the British Post Office issued six coloured postage stamps on 19 June featuring Mr. Bumble the beadle, Mr. Pickwick, The Marchioness, Mrs. Gamp, Captain Cuttle, and Wilkins Micawber (all signed "Kyd" and all available from the Royal Mail as elegantly coloured postcards), complementing a black-and-white miniature sheet of scenes from the novels Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, Little Dorrit, and A Tale of Two Cities by Phiz."

[Peter]

Kim wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Peter wrote: " Did Kyd illustrate any other Dickens novels? I think I hear the groans already

More than groans. Cries of outright agony.

I am sure that Kyd was simply living up ..."

Kim

Again, your research makes our readings that much more enjoyable. To be candid, I think if I had received a Kyd Royal Mail letter/illustration I would not know what to do with it. Perhaps E Bay ....

I do enjoy broadening my knowledge in all things Dickens.

Thanks, as always.

[Kim]

Sorry, I can't resist - from EBay:



Mr Dombey Dombey & Son Charles Dickens Series Signed Kyd Postcard

Price:US $9.99

Buy It Now

Delivery in 4 days

[Peter]

Oh my. If only the Canadian dollar wasn't so low these days ....

[Tristram]

Everyman wrote: "Peter wrote: " The meaning/symbolism of Carker's death-by-train is not clear to me either."

Perhaps Dickens was saying that he was still only a villain in training."

"under training" would be more like it ... ;-)

[Tristram]

Joy wrote: "Oh I actually like that picture of Dombey.

I wish you could see my hubby's caricature of Carker. He looks like the Joker from Batman. I shall always think of him that way."

Well, Joy, you could take a photo of it and then upload it as a profile photo ... you see how curious you got me? ;-)

[Tristram]

Peter wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Peter wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Peter wrote: "These chapters provide so much; we have drama, excitement, partings and death as well as reunions and new beginnings.

First, to Cark..."

We had probably better wait until we have read all Dickens novels because otherwise this would spoil things a bit. But in the novels we have read so far there are some quite gruesome deaths. I listed some, and I'd like to add poor old Arthur Gride murdered in his bed by burglars who were after the miser's money. Here we are again, poetic justice. Nothing bad, however, happened to one of the least likeable villains in Nicholas Nickleby: I think that Sir Mulberry Hawk was not gruesomely done away with, was he?

[Linda]

Tristram wrote: ""under training" would be more like it ... ;-) "

Ha! Nice one, Tristram.

[Hilary]

Tristram, you are funny ... :-}

[Kim]

Tristram wrote: "I think that Sir Mulberry Hawk was not gruesomely done away with, was he?"

No he wasn't and he should have been, maybe married to Fanny Squeers? Or would you prefer Little Nell?

[Tristram]

Hilary wrote: "Tristram, you are funny ... :-}"

Thanks, Hilary and Linda, for letting me get away with my silly puns and for not railing at me ;-)

[Tristram]

Kim wrote: "Tristram wrote: "I think that Sir Mulberry Hawk was not gruesomely done away with, was he?"

No he wasn't and he should have been, maybe married to Fanny Squeers? Or would you prefer Little Nell?"

Fanny Squeers would have been the better option because then Sir Mulberry Hawk would have had Wackford Squeers for a father-in-law.