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The Holly-Tree
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The Holly-Tree Inn (hosted by Robin)
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Greg
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Nov 18, 2021 11:59AM
Thanks Sean!
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I’m impressed with the in-depth discussion here! My reading was much more impressionistic I think :)I liked the wormy curtains in his room, that is a description I tried to picture! (I will have to look up the ballad named)
I found all the descriptions of various inns a bit repetitive (and boring). And yet the ones that stood out (like the never ending pie, or the room where the suicide took place) could have been expanded to their own short story.
I’ll be reading the full 7 chapters.
Janelle wrote: "I found all the descriptions of various inns a bit repetitive (and boring). And yet the ones that stood out (like the never ending pie, or the room where the suicide took place) could have been expanded to their own short story...."
Completely agree with this Janelle. I felt it drifted a bit when it got to all the inns. I think Sara mentioned this too.
I enjoyed the first half with the travel through the snow though (so vivid!), and there were a few highlights to the inns stories as you say. But overall, my interest dropped in the second half of the first stave. However . . . .
I won't say anything about it because I wasn't supposed to do it. But I did read a bit ahead, and you do have some treats coming up! Some later parts are sooo good!! But that will be discussed next week. :)
Mod
Bionic Jean wrote: "I know they must be good, because Robin said last Christmas that she wanted to lead this one next!":)
The reason the discussion is able to get into this much detail is that we have a whole week on a relatively short chapter. That is a strength of this group, breaking down the reading more than most groups do. And if anyone didn't have a lot to say, that's fine too.
Robin P wrote: "The reason the discussion is able to get into this much detail is that we have a whole week on a relatively short chapter. That is a strength of this group, breaking down the reading more than most..."I do like this way of doing it Robin! And thanks for choosing the book!
Robin P wrote: "The reason the discussion is able to get into this much detail is that we have a whole week on a relatively short chapter. That is a strength of this group, breaking down the reading more than most..."Yes. I agree. It also affords the reader time to do those little extra things, such as checking out the syntax, word-play, and not least his ‘inventing’ words or at least modifying words to give them new or extended meanings. Greg pointed this out earlier with Dickens’ use of ‘finited’.
Dickens often added a prefix or suffix to existing words and gave them new, or extended, meanings, and maybe he tried this in the Holly Tree Inn, when he says :
“... he was burglariously getting in at a window”
But the OED has ‘burglariously’ recorded in 1807, before he was born (then 1883 - by-passing Dickens' use)
However, Dickens gets there about a decade later with ‘Burglarious’ in OMF
Burglarious = Burglar-like
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. i. 1 A burglarious stream of fog creeping in..through the keyhole.
I’m away for the weekend now, but will try to look in if I get an opportunity …
The Victorian Web has some wonderful illustrations of the Holly Tree Inn in the snow by Henry Matthew Brock from the 1916 edition. According to the commentary, the inn was based on "The Red Lion" in North Yorkshire.Frontispiece:
https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...
Cover and before the start of "The Boots":
https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...
https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...
Title Page:
https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...
I'm sorry I couldn't post the actual images.
Thank you, Connie, they are beautiful!
Daniela wrote: "Thank you, Connie, they are beautiful!"I'm glad you enjoyed them too.
Yes, those are great - though I think the snow should be deeper!
Robin P wrote: "Yes, those are great - though I think the snow should be deeper!"That's true, Robin! :-)
I was thinking the same, Robin. The snow in the pictures does not seem menacing but tranquil.
***Week 2***Parts 2 & 3 - The Ostler and The Boots
In the 2nd week, we have 2 stories of very different tone. The first is a ghost/horror story thought to be written by Wilkie Collins and the second is a charming story of innocent children written by Dickens. I'll post more of a summary tomorrow.
Mod
While we Changed Horses - Henry Matthew Brock
The Holly-tree inn - Henry Matthew Brock
I was born and brought up in Yorkshire, and can confirm that Yorkshire country pubs do indeed look like that :)
In 1839 with Oliver completed Dickens turns his attention to Nicholas Nickleby, and accompanied with Hablot Brown (ake Phiz), he sets out on a number of journeys, including visits to the notorious Yorkshire schools. Part of their itinerant took them through Shrewsbury and on through the scenic route to Llanghollen where they put up in a hotel. To their astonishment they were presented with the bill which included one of the itemised services as ‘payment for harpist’. Some 15yrs later Dickens recalls it in the Holly Tree Inn:
“This reminiscence brought the Welsh Inns in general before me; with the
women in their round hats, and the harpers with their white beards
(venerable, but humbugs, I am afraid), playing outside the door while I
took my dinner. “
When Charley of the Holly Tree Inn is drinking to the General the Majors the Colonels, and civilians, he goes on to say that: “ whatever little motes my beamy eyes may have descried in theirs, they belong to a kind, generous, large-hearted, and great people.”
Then some 12yrs later in his November speech (London) 1867 when about to embark on his second tour of America, Charles says:
”Twelve years ago, when Heaven knows I little thought I should ever be bound upon the voyage which now lies before me, I wrote in that form of my writings which obtains by far the most extensive circulation, these words of the American nation: I know full well, whatever little motes my beamy eyes may have descried in theirs, that they are a kind, large-hearted, generous, and great people”.
Robin, I don't want to jump before the starting pistol again. :)I think we're waiting until you post a summary before we discuss the next 2 staves in depth, right?
Mod
**Summary of The Ostler**Charley for some strange reason starts by going to the stables. Maybe it's just because the story was written this way and then shoehorned in. The ostler looks like an old man who is having a nightmare. He shudders and whispers about murder and about a woman with light gray eyes, light hair, unusual fingernails, and a knife.
Charley, shaken by this event, tells the landlord what he has seen. The landlord takes it upon himself to tell the ostler's story. "Unlucky Isaac" has no success in work or love, living with his elderly mother. Two days before his birthday he goes out to try for a place working in a stable, but it is already taken. On the way home, he walks through the traditional "dark and stormy night" and takes shelter at an inn. He is the only guest. The wind moans throughout the night but Isaac finally falls asleep.
Isaac is awakened by his own shivering and by the light of the candle he left burning he sees a woman standing over him with a knife. Se takes the knife, which is a very specific type, and strikes first to one side of Isaac, then to the other. He also notices her "yellowish flaxen hair, and light, gray eyes, with a droop in the left eyelid" and " a pink flush under and round the fingernails". She disappears, he screams "Murder!" and rushes to the door, which is locked as he left it. The landlord is angry at being awakened and having his family scared. There are no knife marks and no locks have been unlocked.
Isaac decides he'd rather be outside than stay at the inn, he goes home and tells his mother all about the dream. She realizes that he had the dream on his birthday at the time of night he was born. His mother writes down all the details and locks them in a drawer.
Over time, the dream fades out of Isaac's consciousness and his luck turns so that he gets good employment and a pension. He still lives with his mother. On the evening of his birthday, he goes out in the rain to get her some medicine. There is a woman outside the pharmacy who has been asking for laudanum. She is ragged and wet, and the pharmacist is sure she wants the drugs to kill herself. He offers to help her but she says just the fact that he showed interest in her makes her feel better. She asks him to meet her the next day.
He falls in love with Rebecca and they agree to marry, but she asks him not to tell his mother how they met. He keeps feeling there is something odd about her, in spite of his attraction. But when he takes her home, his mother turns pale and tells him to open the drawer. Rebecca says his mother is insane, and she leaves. The mother warns him that she looks just like the woman in the dream. But Isaac has promised to marry her and she does.
They start out all right, but around Isaac's next birthday, Rebecca becomes "sullen and contemptuous", associates with drunkards and becomes one herself. His mother is dying and as a last wish she wants to visit Rebecca to try to improve matters. But when she comes in, the first thing she sees is Rebecca with a knife, exactly like the knife in the dream. She insists on leaving and begs Isaac not to go back, but he says he has to get the knife. Rebecca refuses and he is afraid to sleep there, only dozing during the day or staying with his dying mother.
When Isaac's mother dies, Rebecca, drunk as usual, insists she will walk in the funeral parade although Isaac doesn't want her. He strikes her and locks her in. When he returns, she says, "No man has ever struck me twice," she said, " and my husband shall have no second opportunity. Set the door open and let me go. From this day forth we see each other no more." She disappears for a week, but suddenly he awakens with the same type of shivers as back at the inn. He sees this time the actual woman, his wife, with the knife. He grabs her, takes the knife, goes out and finds it is 2 am and his birthday.
He goes back to check on Rebecca but she is gone. He tells his neighbor to sell the furniture and use the money to track her, but she is never found. A few months later, he arrives at the Holly Tree and takes a job there. He often is disturbed at night and on the night of his birthday he sits up all night, sure that the nightmare woman is still looking for him. "Who can tell?"
**Summary of The Boots** (by Dickens)Charley next talks to the "boots", that is the person who cleans and polishes the shoes put outside the guests' doors at night. This fellow (Cobbs) has seen a lot but when asked for the "curiousest" thing he has seen, he tells about an 8-year-old boy running away with a 7-year-old girl.
Cobbs was under-gardener to the family of the boy, Harry. Harry was in love with a neighbor girl named Norah. They were already planning their married life. Harry went to his grandmother's house for a visit around the time that Cobbs ("to seek his fortun" ) left the house as well. He ended up at the Holly Tree Inn and one day he saw those same two children get out of a coach. They are delighted to see Cobbs and explain they are going to Gretna Green to be married. (This town in Scotland was well known as a place to elope to if you couldn't easily be married in England.)
Cobbs explains to the owner what he knows of the children and the owner goes to notify the family. Cobbs stalls the children for a couple of days by claiming that the pony they wish to hire isn't available. He feels bad deceiving them but knows it is for the best. Meanwhile, although Harry's determination never flags, Norah seems to falter at times and even once says she wants to go home. The children go on a walk, consume plenty of sweets, and are doted on by the other people at the inn.
Finally the innkeeper returns with Harry's father and an elderly lady (who is apparently a relative of Norah's) and the children go home without real difficulty. The end tells us, " Mrs. Harry Walmers Junior that was never to be (she married a captain, long afterward, and died in India) went off the next day." The moral of the story is " firstly, that there are not many couples on their way to be married, who are half as innocent of guile as those two children; secondly, that it would be a jolly good thing for a great many couples on their way to be married, if they could only be stopped in time and brought back separately."
This story doesn't have a lot of action or suspense but presents a sort of palate-cleanser after the previous one.
Mod
I thought "The Boots" was delightful! The description and the character detail were exquisite. I could picture all of it in my mind vividly.And with all going on in life these days, what a treat to read something where the goodness of human nature is on full display . . . the quiet protectiveness of several of the adults for the two children and the kind reticence to damage the boy's feelings, regardless of the impracticality. It's as though they feel a purity in the impulses behind the boy's actions, and they honor that in him. Of course, they cannot allow the boy to follow his plans, but they all confront the challenge in the kindest possible way. I love the father's reactions toward the end especially.
"The Boots" is priceless!
As far as "The Ostler," poor Isaac . . . that guy cannot catch a break!
I enjoyed both stories. I wonder why the ostler’s story is told by the landlord and not the man himself.As for the children’s story, yes very cute. I think my favourite part was how all the women reacted.
“The way in which the women of that house—without exception—every one of 'em—married and single—took to that boy when they heard the story, Boots considers surprising. It was as much as he could do to keep 'em from dashing into the room and kissing him. They climbed up all sorts of places, at the risk of their lives, to look at him through a pane of glass. They was seven deep at the keyhole. They was out of their minds about him and his bold spirit.”
Both Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens enjoyed performing. Collins revised "The Ostler" and read it at public readings as "The Dream Woman." "The Boots" was a favorite with the audiences for Dickens' performances. I enjoyed both stories.I felt sorry for the ostler, living a life of terror and afraid to close his eyes. If the woman with the knife didn't kill him, the sleep deprivation might shorten his life! After reading about Isaac and Rebecca's awful marriage, it was such a delight to have "The Boots" (with a marriage theme) as the following story as a contrast. The two children were so innocent and affectionate, and they brought out the best in the people who were helping them.
Thanks for your summaries, Robin.
I appreciate you posting the illustrations, Jean.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Greg, yes that's what she said yesterday. And although it's evening here, it's only 3.25pm where Robin is, so we need to hold our horses ... (maybe the ostler at the Holly Tree Inn will assi..."Made me laugh Jean. :) I can use all the help from the ostlers that I can get, ha ha!
Mod
I love your enthusiasm Greg :D Connie - you're very welcome - thanks for tracking them down! I'm really enjoying all these summaries and observations - will leave specific responses to Robin :)
Bionic Jean wrote: "I love your enthusiasm Greg :D..":)
Connie wrote: "The two children were so innocent and affectionate, and they brought out the best in the people who were helping them...."I like this Connie. I suppose a part of the adults' politeness has to do with the differences in station but by no means all of it. The children did bring out the best in the other characters!
Maybe the adults recognized something in these kids, the innocence and purity of intention in these children and also in their memories of their own younger selves, maybe the very best of what had been in them once, found in these two heart-achingly distilled?
I can certainly see how it would have been a favorite with the audiences!
The Pilgrim Edition (Charles Dickens Letters) published its final volume of CDs letters (about 1200, give or take) in 2002. Since then hundreds of his hitherto unpublished letters have come to light, and that’s where the awesome Charles Dickens Letters Project comes in. They’ve been publishing (for free) all newly discovered CD letters since 2002, and there’s a couple that make fleeting references to Holly Tree Inn, particularly ‘The Boots’, which along with Nickleby, Gamp and Dombey were initially the most popular stories at his public readings. Here’s a letter written from the Champs Elysees, Paris, to his father-in-law George Hogarth in 1856
My Dear Hogarth.
The Post-Delivery being late to day, I have only time to empower you, in so many words, to convey to Addison and Co. my full permission to use the title “Little Dorrit” for the song you describe. Mary must add it to her Repertoire. You astonish me about the Boots*. I suppose they’ll make a Mess of it, and I thank Heaven that I am out of the way.
*Dickens is alluding to one of The Holly Tree Inn’s 8 or so stage adaptations between 17 Jan and 21 Feb 1856
You can find the full details on CDLP site here: https://dickensletters.com/
Greg wrote: "Connie wrote: "The two children were so innocent and affectionate, and they brought out the best in the people who were helping them...."I like this Connie. I suppose a part of the adults' polite..."
Good thoughts, Greg!
I also enjoyed both stories. The Ostler is markedly Collins to me. I am beginning to be able to pick up his cadences in his writing now that I have read a goodly number of his books. I did feel sad for Isaac, for the reasons Connie cites. How horrible to live your life always expecting to be killed in your own bed.I chuckled at the conclusions drawn from Boots:
In conclusion, Boots puts it to me whether I hold with him in two opinions: firstly, that there are not many couples on their way to be married, who are half as innocent of guile as those two children; secondly, that it would be a jolly good thing for a great many couples on their way to be married, if they could only be stopped in time and brought back separately.
This continues to be oh so true today! I had a couple who came specifically to mind.
Sean, thank you for the link. I will enjoy exploring that site when I have a bit more time.
Sara wrote: "I chuckled at the conclusions drawn from Boots:
In conclusion, Boots puts it to me whether I hold with him in two opinions: firstly, that there are not many couples on their way to be married, who are half as innocent of guile as those two children; secondly, that it would be a jolly good thing for a great many couples on their way to be married, if they could only be stopped in time and brought back separately..."
Me too Sara! :)
Connie wrote: "Good thoughts, Greg!"Thanks! :)
I can see how both of these stories could make excellent plays (or movies!)
Robin P wrote: "I can see how both of these stories could make excellent plays (or movies!)"The first one for sure Robin! I can imagine a great version filmed for one of the UK channels. They do such a great job at adaptions of material like that.
"Boots" would require someone special to capture the quiet magic of it, but I'm sure it could be done. I'm not sure I'd like to see it expanded with lots of unnecessary suspense added in though. Or goodness forbid, a hipper more cynical sensibility, that would be awful! Maybe it could be filmed as a shorter piece or as part of an anthology?
Robin P wrote: "I can see how both of these stories could make excellent plays (or movies!)"All of Dickens’ novels and most of his Christmas stories had been adapted for the stage. He bangs on about it, justifiably, in many of his letters.
Dickens was plagued by pirates, especially playwrights, imitating his works, but he wasn’t too fussed about the Christmas Story adaptions because they were published as complete stories. However, all of his novels were serial, and playwrights often made up their own endings, sometimes just after 2-3 installments, and it drove him crazy
Below is a Dickens’ letter posted on the fantastic CDLP website which publishes all Dickens’ newly discovered letters (for free) since 2002, after the last volume of Pilgrim Edition published his 12000 or so letters
Dickens writes to his father-in-law from Champs Elysees in Jan 1856
"My Dear Hogarth
The Post-Delivery being late to day, I have only time to empower you, in so many words, to convey to Addison and Co. my full permission to use the title “Little Dorrit” for the song you describe. Mary must add it to her Repertoire. You astonish me about the Boots*. I suppose they’ll make a Mess of it, and I thank Heaven that I am out of the way.
* Dickens was alluding to the playwright hashing up 'The Boots' as at least eight stage adaptations of it appeared between 17 Jan and 21 Feb 1856
You can read more about it here: https://dickensletters.com/
Sean wrote: "The Post-Delivery being late to day, I have only time to empower you, in so many words, to convey to Addison and Co. my full permission to use the title “Little Dorrit” for the song you describe. Mary must add it to her Repertoire. You astonish me about the Boots*. I suppose they’ll make a Mess of it, and I thank Heaven that I am out of the way.* Dickens was alluding to the playwright hashing up 'The Boots' as at least eight stage adaptations of it appeared between 17 Jan and 21 Feb 1856
..."
Ha, thanks Sean! I wonder how all of this worked - there probably weren't things called copyrights yet, I guess? Or were there gentlemen's agreements in terms of granting permission that playwrights were violating?
I can imagine some dreadful adaptions of "The Boots" and some wonderful ones too.
It must've been hard for him to have not much control over how these things were done? It sounds like he discovered about the adaptions of "The Boots" in another letter?
Greg. Well, we’ve had copyright laws in the UK since the 1700s, but they became ineffective when the huge printing revolution started by the end of the century, and by the 1800s it was virtually a free for all. Dickens was a long-term, but unsuccessful, campaigner for copyright, so much so, that the American’s all but kicked him out of America on his first visit. Dickens also brought an action against the pirates in the UK, and although he won his case it cost him heavy as the culprit declared themselves bankrupt and set up in another name.For a really good introduction Ackroyd and Slater in their respective bios of Dickens break down the detail of his struggle with pirates in both the UK and America, as wells as giving details of the very creative pirates, including titles of some of the stories and plays: ‘Mr Wick Pick’ springs to mind
Sean wrote: "Greg. Well, we’ve had copyright laws in the UK since the 1700s, but they became ineffective when the huge printing revolution started by the end of the century, and by the 1800s it was virtually a ..."So fascinating Sean, thanks so much for the background!
There are some big gaps in my knowledge as I'm not a big lover of non-fiction. I only tend to read non-fiction when a poem or work of fiction gets me curious about something in particular, and I can only take it when the presentation isn't too dry.
I read way too many technical books and torturously dry technical materials for work, and I can't take any more by the time I'm done with that. :)
Mod
Charles Dickens raised the topic wherever he went in his first visit to the USA, although it was not welcome to some American ears as you say:
"Dickens was a long-term, but unsuccessful, campaigner for copyright, so much so, that the American’s all but kicked him out of America on his first visit." True - LOL!
But he wasn't "unsuccessful" - it just didn't happen as soon as he wanted! Charles Dickens was obsessed and driven about this issue, as about so many unfairnesses. Our side reads of The Life of Charles Dickens: The Illustrated Edition have included many letters which he wrote from the USA to his friend John Forster at the time (We'll be reading the concluding part 3 in 2022.)
In fact Charles Dickens never accepted any thieving of his works, and was shocked that there was no copyright protection for authors in the USA. He loathed the fact that anyone could steal his work there and publish it, reaping the acclaim and profits for themselves. And he went to great extremes to implement the law which did already exist, Greg, as Sean says, in Great Britain. Ah, but he did this for all his works, Sean - including the collaborative ones.
Here's one example ... This summer we read the complete A message from the sea (1860) by Charles Dickens including the sections by other authors, and if you read this comment LINK HERE, about a pirated version, it's clear just how protective he was of the rights of all his in-house (or collaborative) authors as well as himself.
Sean - "he wasn’t too fussed about the Christmas Story adaptions"
But he was! This is just one example of a Christmas collaboration in which he was very bothered indeed about all theft of authors' works.
Yes, the bios you directed Greg to are excellent, especially read in conjunction with his letters ... But please be warned Greg, that it's been generally agreed in this group that John Forster's bio is rather dry, as you say, and only brought to life by Charles Dickens's wonderfully frank and exuberant (or damning!) letters:)
Mod
Have you found any Robin? There was a radio dramatisation in 2018 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holly-Tree-I..., but I'm not sure how much of the whole it includes.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Sean :) As you and Greg are both new members you won't be aware of the many discussions we have had about copyright in several reads. Charles Dickens was one of the main camp..."Thanks so much for the extra background on this Jean and the links! :]
Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Sean :) As you and Greg are both new members you won't be aware of the many discussions we have had about copyright in several reads. Charles Dickens was one of the main camp..."Now Jean, we don’t have to agree on the subjectivity of ‘un/sucessful’, but I’m sticking with Slater and Ackroyd on this one who both conclude that Dickens was an active and vociferous copyright compaigner but on the whole unsucessful in achieving his goal. Dickens did not start the copyright campaigns, like most of what he did he merely joined in - the real campain started over 100yrs before Dickens was born.
Lucinda Hawksley sums it aptly when she says, “Charles Dickens was one of the most vociferous copyright campaign supporters of his gen:eration and, although he did not win the battle in his lifetime", he remained at the forefront of the (international) copyright campaign
In fact the only tangible Copyright law implemented in Dickens’ lifetime was the Copyright Act 1842 - Dickens obviously supported the campaign for this, but it had been running long before he joined in.
It wasn’t until 1886 (16yrs after Dickens’ death) that UK statute put into effect the articles of the Berne Convention and incorporating international copyright into British law - there's no evidence that this was a Dickens' legacy
His only ‘victory’, which Ackroyd, quite rightly calls a ‘Pyrrhic’ victory was UK lawsuit he filed. But he had to pay his own costs (£700) as the culprit (Parley’s Illuminated Library) declared themselves bankrupt. Ackroyd even hints that this case was part inspiration for Bleak House - I can see the logic in that
Though he still complained about playwrights hashing his stories, it’s from about this point - the second point where we disagree with each other - and his letters regarding copyright go some way to confirm this, that he became more restrained (pragmatic) on pirating of his completed stories ie Christmas Stories. His philosophy on copyright can be summed up in his letters, when he writes that, those particular pirates are:
‘imitators who are ,too poor to sue’ - hence his pragmatism - that they were ‘not worth killing for the sake of their carcasses.’ He was astute enough to know when to back down
However, he still riled, for what good it did him, about those ‘scoundrels’ who “hastily and crudely vamp up ideas not yet worked up by the original projector [D is alluding to his serials]”, it is the same, he says, as, “picking a mans’ pocket in the street.”
As far as a movie of The Boots, I was reminded of the 1979 movie "A Little Romance" with a young Diane Lane as an American girl who runs off to Venice with a French boy, aided by an older man played by Laurence Olivier. However, those characters were 13 years old rather than 7 or 8. And the boy in that story was a bit of a delinquent. Still there is an innocence about it.The Boots as written might have been a good vehicle for old-time child stars like Shirley Temple and Freddie Bartholomew.
Mod
Yes, international copyright law was in its infancy, and Charles Dickens's main contribution here was in being a voice. Writers were not usually as vociferous or energetic about such things. I'm sure your date for finalising in law will be correct.
But "success" is a subjective word isn't it? When there was already a British law, which just needed to be implemented each time, Charles Dickens would fight for this - as in the case I linked to - unless there were extenuating circumstances of poverty, as you mention.
So although he could not alter the law of the land in the USA (perhaps this is mainly what you mean), he argued his case when there, and encouraged American authors to fight for it too. Then back at home, he was a fierce campaigner for justice, making sure the law was upheld.
He did this all so publicly, that the public began to be on his side. This is the way of things ... sometimes a law has to be passed first, before public perceptions change. (Perhaps you, like me, are old enough to remember the gradual reversal in public opinion when seat belts became compulsory here.)
Charles Dickens was at the forefront of this movement, and yes I do view this as a success :) Another comparison might be female suffrage in this country. All the signs were historically that votes for women would come about in time. But it was the (newspaper-named) "suffragettes" that we remember as giving the voice to the movement; the Pankhurst family et al. They speeded it all up, just as Charles Dickens alerted the public to the iniquities of copyright theft.
But this is all very much a side issue to this read led by Robin, and only raised because of a passing thought by Greg. It will fit better when we recommence our discussion of John Forster's biography. There we can hear it from the horse's mouth so to speak, rather than contemporary biographers' retrospective opinions on how "successful" Charles Dickens was in raising the public's consciousness about the issue of copyright.
I think the British public would be indignant, when it was pointed out to them, that productions such as the play claiming to be by "John Brougham", were actually authored by their much-loved Charles Dickens. The cover of the text I linked to shows it was just a bald-faced lie, and the British public don't tend to like that sort of thing ...
We may disagree in our subjective opinions, as you say, but can we move back on topic, and get back to our discussion of the The Ostler, now, please? Thanks :)
Mod
Bionic Jean wrote: "Nice thoughts Robin - I do wonder if any of these were filmed under a different name, perhaps. Or Sean might know of stage versions at the time."Yes, Jean, but I’m afraid it’s once again in the Dickensian, here:
Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-jo...
Morley, Malcolm. Dickensian; PLAYS FROM THE CHRISTMAS NUMBERS OF Household Words Vol. 51, (Jan 1, 1955): 127. It’s in 2 parts (2nd part is same title, but with ‘11’ added.
It’s detailed and fairly comprehensive(ish) (about 12 pages) because it looks at the main (known) adaptions of all the Christmas Stories, even the ones Dickens had a hand in. However, detail of the Holly Tree Inn adaptations start on page 130
The same author has written several other articles about Dickens’ adaptations, including those for the Russian, Swedish and French stage - he’s also written articles on specific Christmas Story plays (critic, I suppose).
There’s 1 or 2 other pieces about Dickens’ stage adaptations by other authors too.
I’ve put the link above for those that have online access - most major libraries subscribe to “Proquest”, in which case your library card no: will do the trick. If your library does not subscribe you can join one that does, but you need the relevant documentation first visit
Mod
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
Another Round of Stories by the Christmas Fire (other topics)Collaborative Dickens: Authorship and Victorian Christmas Periodicals (other topics)
The Seven Poor Travellers (other topics)
The Holly-Tree Inn (other topics)
A Round of Stories by the Christmas Fire (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)John Forster (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Melisa Klimaszewski (other topics)
Melisa Klimaszewski (other topics)
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