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The Chimes
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The Chimes (hosted by Petra)
Petra wrote: "It's amazing, really, that such a short story inspired so much artwork over the years. "One wonders if Dickens' fans over the years got it wrong. Perhaps the better story with the deeper message was THE CHIMES as opposed to THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. The message from the former effectively was, "Don't let the bastards grind you down" whereas the latter said more simply, "Don't be such a bastard". Maybe the artists of the day thought more of THE CHIMES??
Oh, I love the Charles Green illustrations! I just love his style.Another thought that came to me today. The Chimes showed Will Fern to Trotty (at Sir Bowley's house). Then he showed Meg and Lillian to Trotty. The Chimes told Trotty that he had died nine years previous, but if he saw Will, then Will must have still been alive. I wonder why he was not still a part of his daughter Lillian's life, and why he did not rescue her from the miserable life she led.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Bridget - You are right! Following Milena's reference, in my comment 361 LINK HERE
Excellent analysis. Current theologians do not believe Mary Magdelene was a prostitute, although she had been possessed by seven demons that Jesus exorcised.
Beyond that, I so appreciate all y'all's comments. No bah humbug here.
wow! You may be right! Dickens' expanding understanding of the plight of the poor.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "but if he saw Will, then Will must have still been alive. I wonder why he was not still a part of his daughter Lillian's life, and why he did not rescue her from the miserable life she led..."Shirley, I believe that Will spoke of being in jail the entire time. He no sooner got out of jail, when he would be picked up for loitering or some such minor "offense" and thrown back into jail. I don't think he had a chance to help Lillian or Meg. I'm sure he would have, if he could have.
This is another example of the Poor not being able to help themselves. Things as simple as a family, being together and pooling their resources are taken away as soon as one disaster happens. Jail is too easy an option.
"Out of sight, out of mind" for the Rich? They don't have to face what it happening to the Poor if the Poor are in jails and workhouses, out of sight.
Paul wrote: "One wonders if Dickens and his fans over the years got it wrong. Perhaps the better story with the deeper message was THE CHIMES as opposed to THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. The message from the former effectively was, "Don't let the bastards grind you down" whereas the latter said more simply, "Don't be such a bastard". Maybe the artists of the day thought more of THE CHIMES??..."Paul, this is an interesting view. A Christmas Carol is so well known; this one, not so much. Yet, this is a story of a bigger redemption than that of one man, I feel.
Perhaps we'll know more when we read the Fourth Quarter.
Fred Barnard (16 May 1846 – 28 September 1896)Barnard was born in the Christchurch district in London. He studied art in Paris and worked in London and at Cullercoats (North East England).
His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art. He also worked as an illustrator for Punch, The Illustrated London News, and Harper's Weekly.
In 1871 Barnard was commissioned to illustrate nine volumes of the Household Edition of Dickens' work. It included Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, Sketches by Boz, Nicholas Nickleby, Barnaby Rudge, Dombey and Son and Martin Chuzzlewit. Barnard created some 450 illustrations over an eight-year period, and became known as "the Charles Dickens among black-and-white artists".
Barnard concentrated on illustrating scenes other than those that Dickens had chosen to portray. Barnard was interested in showing the relationships between pairs of characters.
In 1870 Barnard married Alice Faraday. After the death of his son Geoffrey in 1891, Barnard went into a decline. His relationship with Alice suffered, and he fell into a deep depression, which he tried to escape by taking laudanum.
On 27 September 1896 Barnard died at his home in Wimbledon after his bedclothes caught fire from the pipe he was smoking while under the influence of a drug, probably laudanum.
He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's church in Wimbledon
Fred Barnard:
Saint Mary's Church, Wimbledon:
Never More, Meg, Never More by Fred Barnard
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Barnard concentrated on illustrating scenes other than those that Dickens had chosen to portray That explains a lot! I've always found his drawings beautiful, but different, and sometimes rather fanciful. Free from Charles Dickens's exact - and exacting - stipulations, he could have far more control over his illustrations than Charles Dickens's contemporaries (who were selected by him to do the job).
What a sad end to his life, though :(
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Petra and Jean...I guess I missed that part of Will Fern constantly being thrown in one workhouse or another. That would explain how he was unable to help Lillian and probably didn't even know the life she was living.
I just have never understood how workhouses were supposed to work to better the poor. How in the world was a poor man supposed to earn a living if he was constantly being thrown in a workhouse, and as you say, Jean, being torn apart from his family. So the entire family was subjected to a life of poverty that they could never escape. And then you have rich people like Sir Bowley who took pride that they "understood" the poor and supported the very institutions that made sure the poor stayed poor.
Petra, thank you for posting the illustration and story of Fred Barnard. I really like his style. What a shame he died the way he did.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Most of the social provisions in England at that time were based on economic theory. Specifically, John Stuart Mill's ideas about Utilitarianism laid the foundations for the ideas behind workhouses. If the poor were too comfortable there, the argument went, they would not be motivated to work hard, so they were kept with minimum food, and spare conditions. Windows were too high for anyone to look out of, heating was nonexistent etc.
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, (10 years before The Chimes was published) was intended to improve some of the worst conditions, but Charles Dickens was heavily critical of it, both in this novella and many other things he wrote - both fiction and articles for his newspaper.
Previously it had been the duty of the parishes to care for the poor through alms and taxes. They could either go to the parish workhouse or apply for "outdoor relief", which enabled them to live at home and work at outside jobs. But the new Poor Law of 1834 grouped parishes together into unions. Each union had a workhouse, and the only help available to poor people from then on was to become inmates in the workhouse.
In Oliver Twist (in 1838, 4 years after the law was passed) he said with bitter sarcasm that the workhouse was little more than a prison for the poor. Civil liberties were denied, families were separated, and human dignity was destroyed. The inadequate diet instituted in the workhouse prompted his ironic comment that:
"all poor people should have the alternative ... of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it."
It is sometimes thought that Charles Dickens might have exaggerated the conditions in the workhouses, for effect, as part of his "persuasive literature". A good book investigating the conditions is by Ruth Richardson, Dickens and the Workhouse: Oliver Twist and the London Poor. She wrote it after discovering that as a boy Charles Dickens had lived within a mile of the "Cleveland Street Workhouse".
He lived in Cleveland Street from when he was nearly 3 to nearly 5 years old. But as we all know, Charles Dickens's father was then arrested for debt and the family was forced to live inside the "Marshalsea" Debtors' Prison in Southwark. The family returned to the same house in Norfolk/Cleveland Street several years later, when Charles Dickens was nearly seventeen, and stayed until he was almost twenty. During that time, he was out at work as a young legal clerk, and training himself to become a shorthand court reporter.
This was all very familiar to him, and I'm sure he would have reiterated your comment, "I just have never understood how workhouses were supposed to work to better the poor."
Jean, this is fantastic background--thank you. It's sad that we are often dependent on those like Dickens who lived through an oppressive circumstance and had the fortune to make their way out of it, to tell us the truth about it. His experience gave him both empathy and credibility. This is probably not relevant to our discussion, but I'm curious if there were other authors of the time that wrote about the plight of the poor in the detail that Dickens did.
Fourth Quarter by Richard Doyle
Fourth Quarter summary:A swirl of phantoms and figures in the Bells allows Toby to realize that Time has passed and it is a few years after the death of Lillian.
He finds himself in a room with two people, before a roaring fire with the lingering aroma of tea & muffins in the room. The couple sit comfortably before the fire, content and dozing.
Trotty recognized Mrs. Chickenstalker; it took him awhile to recognize her husband, the former porter of Sir Joseph Bowley, Mr. Tugby.
He sees the store, full of merchandise and looking behind the parlour door to where the accounts are kept, Toby sees that his name is gone and that there are fewer accounts. He realizes that Mr. Tugby believes in the “cash only” method of transacting business and had stopped giving credit to those in need.
The couple comment on the cold, dark, blustery, inclement day. A medical attendant enters the store, the couple go to speak with him. He says that the tenant up in the attic won’t live much longer. Mr. Tugby states that the man must leave the house before he dies there.
The couple in the attic are the only point of argument between Tugby and his wife. Mrs. Tugby won’t throw them out or let Mr. Tugby do so. Mr. Tugby would remove the couple to the Workhouses. Mrs. Tugby will hear nothing of it. She remembers the dying man as a young, robust, steady man and his wife as the sweetest girl. She remembers the girl’s father as an honest, open hearted, kind man. The woman upstairs is Meg; the man, Richard.
Mrs. Tugby has the upper hand in the argument; Mr. Tugby quietly pockets the money in the till. Mrs. Tugby relates the history of Richard and Meg; how their trust in each other was broken by a “gentleman”. Richard dove into the bottle and bad company. Years later, Meg was worn out with hard work and married him to try to save him from his vices. But he couldn’t stop drinking and now lay dying. There was an infant baby now, too. Her time taken by caring for Richard and the baby and not being able to complete her sewing commissions, Meg lost her sewing work. The couple are highly in debt to Mr. and Mrs. Tugby’s store and rent.
A cry comes from the attic. Richard has died. The Tugbys and the medical man, with the unseen Trotty and Lillian, go upstairs.
Trotty sees a despondent, wretched Meg and a sickly, poor looking and cherished baby. Mrs. Tugby comforts Meg. The bells ring “follow her”; Lillian fades away, saying “follow her”.
Trotty stays with Meg, observing her closely. He observes the sickly child and loves it immediately. He sees how Meg cradles the child and sees she also loves the baby. Over the next days, he sees Meg’s desperation, her search for work, her care of the child, her needs and hunger. Not once did her love for the child falter. He sees that she stays away from Mrs. Tugby, not wanting to start an argument between the couple.
One evening, her door opens and Will Fern enters. He has come for a final visit. He is leaving. He holds the child. He says she looks like Lillian at that age, when her mother died and left her. This strikes fear in Meg. She looks at the child in complete despair.
Will leaves. Meg paces the room, holding the child and looking at her. Like Lillian!
In the morning, Meg dresses the child carefully. It is the last day of the year. She has no food and is hungry, as is the child. She wanders the streets to the public charity office. But here, too, she fails to find help. She heads for home. It is night, it is cold. Mr. Tugby stands at the door and won’t let her enter. He will enter the New Year with no quarrels between him & his wife. He berates Meg for entering the New Year with debts and woes. Meg leaves.
“Follow her” say the phantoms flying around Toby. THefollows. He sees Meg’s love for the child, even now, in her desperation. Meg is desperate. She sees her child’s future…how she could or would be like Lillian, become a fallen woman.
Toby cries to the phantoms “have mercy on her. Turn her back”. But they only point to Meg…."follow her to desperation". Hundreds of voices echo these words to Toby.
Meg races through the streets, then stops. She wraps the child warmly & arranges it’s clothing & limbs. She kisses it with love. Putting the child within her dress and wrapping its arms around her neck and speeds towards the river.
Toby follows her, tries to touch & stop her but Meg cannot see or feel him. She continues to race to the river. She pauses at the brink. Toby falls on his knees, begging the phantoms to save her; he’s learned his lesson; save her. He feels his sense of touch return; he can detain Meg from jumping. He is watched by the figures and phantoms.
He begs forgiveness for thinking ill of the desperate, blaming them for their plight and woes. He has learned of his ignorance and sees his presumptions. Save Meg, please!
He finds her & the child in his arms. He gazes at the child, sees that with trust and hope, the Poor will survive.
The bells begin to ring in the New Year. The bells, his friends, ring joyfully and merrily.
The spell is broken. He is back in his room. Meg is happily sewing on her wedding dress, youthful, healthy, happy. He goes to hug her but trips on his newspaper. No, the first kiss of the New Year bestowed on Meg will be from her soon-to-be husband, Richard. Richard has been waiting at the door for the bells to ring at the stroke of midnight so that he could enter and greet Meg with a New Year’s kiss. He wants to claim Meg as his darling wife to cherish over the years to come.
Toby laughed, he cried. He hugged Meg and Richard. He was filled with Joy.
The chimes were ringing in the New Year. Richard & Meg are to be married that very day.
Lillian comes running into the room, as does Will Fern. The door flies open and the neighbours enter. Happy New Year! Happy Wedding Day!
The neighbourhood comes together in cheer and friendship. In comes Mrs. Chickenstalker, with punch and marrow bones for the party. No one could rest or sleep until the couple was wished joy & happiness for their future together.
Toby introduces Will & Lillian. Mrs. Chickenstalker knows Lillian Fern’s mother! She is the friend that Will fern came to London to look for!
The party began. Music, dancing, drink, cheer, happiness, joy, love!
Happy New Year, Reader & Listener to Toby’s tale! Keep in mind always the lessons learned. May each New Year be a happy one for you and those whose happiness depends on you. May each year be happier than the last and may each person have a rightful share, as Life was created for all to enjoy.
Quoted from The Life of Charles Dickens : Volume II by John Forster:“Third of November, 1844. Half past two, afternoon. Thank God! I have finished The Chimes. This moment. I take up my pen again today; to say only that much; and to add that I have had what women call ‘a real good cry!’ “
The little book thus completed was not one of his greater successes, and it raised him up some objectors; but there was that in it which more than repaid the suffering its writing cost him, and the enmity its opinions provoked; and in his own heart it had a cherished corner to the last.
Petra wrote: "Happy New Year, Reader & Listener to Toby’s tale! Keep in mind always the lessons learned. May each New Year be a happy one for you and those whose happiness depends on you. May each year be happier than the last and may each person have a rightful share, as Life was created for all to enjoy."Thank you so much for all your work. These summaries are wonderful and added immensely to my enjoyment of this lesser-known Dickens' novella.
This is the best summary yet, Petra. You picked up so many nuances I missed on first reading, and I agree with Paul--made all the difference in my enjoyment of this one.
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All the summaries and the wonderful illustrations added to my appreciation of the story. Thank you for putting so much effort in leading this discussion, Petra.
I do love how Dickens turns things around and ends on a joyful note and even wraps up the loose ends. What a wonderful summary, Petra.
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There's certainly a lot to talk about this week, with the 4th quarter! (I'll add the illustrations I've found later on in the week, as usual, so as not to deflect from discussion of the text itself.)
I'm adding my thanks as well, Petra. The summaries and illustrations add a real depth to the story-which I love.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Perhaps others will say when they first saw the twist coming :) The dream? The ghosts? Is it significant how we think of that?
I'm sure Petra will have something to say :)
Thank you everyone! It was a pleasure to read this story with you. I didn't read the last quarter until this week. I didn't want to know what happened until the discussion occurred, so to keep the discussion free from any hint of whatever was to come.
The ending excited me as I read along. When Lillian left, saying "Follow her", I felt fear for Toby. What could he do in his ghostly state? Was this scene the reality? Was it like A Christmas Carol's Ghost of Christmas Future episode, and a ghostly visit to a possible future?
I was heartbroken that Meg's last chances were futile.
And then it all turned and Dickens made it right again.
Will Richard & Meg have riches in their future? Perhaps not the ones we associate with "success" (money, fancy dress, etc) but this last section showed us that they are rich already. They have friends, love, a neighbourhood to call home. They have support in every corner of their lives and they have each other. There are no riches better than that or that give back more to one's life.
This is a wonderful story. I see why it held a special place in Dickens' heart.
As for the dream aspect, I don't buy it. I'm fully in the corner of the Phantoms of the Bells whisking Toby away to the future to see how despair, Society and ill treatment can force a person ever lower until they can no longer live. I fully believe that Toby had this experience and that his friends, the Bells, helped give him the belief in himself and his peers that will give him the strength and joy to continue living his best life.
Toby's sense of the poor being worthless is influenced by the newspapers as well as the politicians. In the first quarter, he talks about the Papers being full of observations, frightening him to read about the poor people. In the fourth quarter, when he comes out of his dreamlike vision of the goblins, he goes to kiss Meg. But he catches his feet on the newspaper which had fallen on the hearth. It only stops him for a moment since he is no longer believing everything he reads in the newspaper, and will follow the feelings in his heart.
Paul wrote: "One wonders if Dickens' fans over the years got it wrong. Perhaps the better story with the deeper message was THE CHIMES as opposed to THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. The message from the former effectively was, "Don't let the bastards grind you down" whereas the latter said more simply, "Don't be such a bastard". Maybe the artists of the day thought more of THE CHIMES??.."Paul, I had to go back to your post after reading this Fourth Quarter.
I think, now that I can ponder two of Dickens' Christmas stories, that Dickens is trying to change attitudes.
As you say, in A Christmas Carol he's changing the attitude of one man within himself. That change brings about many other changes in the world of that one man. It's phenomenal.
In The Chimes Dickens seems to be changing the attitude of one man within the Society or Class that he lives in. This brings about changes in the man's outlook, which brings about changes in the man's world and to those around him in a more universal way. That's doubly phenomenal.
One's attitude influences everything one sees, feels and does with and in one's life. This change in Toby is more about the Society and not about himself. That attitude will continue to grow within his neighbourhood & family, which could (and will) grow in circles larger than the circle of Scrooge's changed world.
You nailed it, Paul, with your observation.
Connie wrote: "In the fourth quarter, when he comes out of his dreamlike vision of the goblins, he goes to kiss Meg. But he catches his feet on the newspaper which had fallen on the hearth. It only stops him for a moment since he is no longer believing everything he reads in the newspaper, and will follow the feelings in his heart...."
Connie, this is a great observation. Toby now has a belief in the worth of himself, his family & neighbourhood. That feeling of Worth & Value is worth all the gold that the Rich have.
Petra wrote: "Paul wrote: "One wonders if Dickens' fans over the years got it wrong. Perhaps the better story with the deeper message was THE CHIMES as opposed to THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. The message from the former..."Thanks, Petra.
Dickens certainly doesn't spare any consideration or kind words for the upper class in the actual telling of the story! Alderman Cute, Messrs Filer, Worthy and Tugby, and, of course, Joseph Bowley were uniformly portrayed as dark-hearted, mean-spirited, intolerant, and cruel people. I think we've now agreed that the primary message of THE CHIMES was to the lower classes and those who might be dispirited and led to despair as a result of the prevailing attitudes that were directed toward them.But Dickens surely knew that there would be upper class readers who would almost certainly take mortal offense at their portrayal. Perhaps with that in mind, he closes the story by breaking the fourth wall and speaking, in a much calmer and more subdued voice, directly to the upper class reader:
"... try to bear in mind the stern realities from which these shadows come; and in your sphere - none is too wide, and none too limited for such an end - endeavour to correct, improve , and soften them."
"So may the New Year be a Happy one to You, Happy to many more whose Happiness depends on You! So may each Year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethern or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy."
A simultaneous criticism and plea to the wealthy class for a change in society, don't you think?
Bionic Jean wrote: "Shirley - I think I mentioned earlier that it was to do with a misunderstanding and misapplication of Utilitarianism.Most of the social provisions in England at that time were based on economic t..."
Thank you so much for the detailed explanations and the references, Jean. I have been studying on what you said, and I think I understand the motive - if not the implementation - of the Utilitarianism philosophy in Victorian England.
This article was extremely helpful in explaining Utilitarianism to me and what Charles Dickens had to say about it in Hard Times: https://simplelinesdegrowth.wordpress....
I think this philosophy is similar to what Benjamin Franklin (one of the American founders) believed about pulling the poor out of poverty:
“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”The difference to me was Utilitarianism appeared to involve no Christian charity, where here in the States, Christian charity has always been an important part to "teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime" (as opposed to "give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day)." Virtually every Protestant church (I can only speak of Protestant churches as I am more familiar with them) supports some type of local outreach program for those who are down on their luck.
I think Utilitarianism missed the important point that it takes family and community to encourage someone's highest potentials. I can see how Dickens was so deeply affected by this lack of heart.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Charles Dickens was never "upper class". He was actually born into the lower middle class, although the family struggled to stay at that level, when his father was imprisoned for debt. Charles Dickens was well acquainted with the poor, and wrote for every class. This included those who were illiterate, and had his stories read to them right up to Queen Victoria, who was one of his biggest fans.
But his fellow, middle class writers often looked down on Charles Dickens as being a bit of a dandy, and a jumped-up upstart. He may have achieved middle class status by the end of his life - he certainly strove to do so - but he was never upper middle class, nor gentry, and certainly not "upper class".
I know the English class system is very nuanced and complicated!
Bionic Jean wrote: "Paul - I'm sure Petra will answer you in detail but just to clarify the English class system ...Charles Dickens was not ever "upper class". He was actually born into the lower mid..."
What did I say that led you to believe I was categorizing Dickens as "upper class"?
Paul wrote: ""... try to bear in mind the stern realities from which these shadows come; and in your sphere - none is too wide, and none too limited for such an end - endeavour to correct, improve , and soften them."."I liked this quote because it said, to me, that we are all a part of the whole. We, each of us, can make a difference in how this World turns, so to speak. We can make another's world better and more secure, even if we cannot change their circumstances. We can treat everyone with respect, kindness and caring.
Paul wrote: ""So may the New Year be a Happy one to You, Happy to many more whose Happiness depends on You! So may each Year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethern or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy.".."This quote, too, spoke to me of Hope and Cheer. If we look beyond our own happiness and give a little bit for the happiness of others, each year will bring joys and rewards that will grow and grow.
I can't speak for Charles Dickens as I know very little about his life, other than what we've discussed here. From what I do know, I think he would be trying to open the consciousness of all classes to be mindful of others and aware of our own blessings.
And to help. Be part of a greater collective and community than one's own self or household.
Petra: Thank you for such a wonderful summary (message 416). I'm afraid I was pretty confused at times as to what was going on, so your summary really helped to clarify this passage. In message 417, I love your Charles Dickens' quote "...I have had what women call 'a real good cry!' ". It really moved me that Dickens was so tenderhearted.Connie: @ message 428, I LOVED your observations about the newspapers, and particularly this "But he catches his feet on the newspaper which had fallen on the hearth. It only stops him for a moment since he is no longer believing everything he reads in the newspaper, and will follow the feelings in his heart." I didn't catch the meaning behind him tripping on the newspaper, but yes... Trotty wasn't going to let the newspapers "trip him up anymore." Love that you brought out the meaning in this!
Petra: @ message 429, I loved your observation:
In The Chimes Dickens seems to be changing the attitude of one man within the Society or Class that he lives in. This brings about changes in the man's outlook, more than it brings about changes in the man's world. That's doubly phenomenal because one's attitude influences everything one sees, feels and does with and in one's life. This change in Toby will continue within his neighbourhood & family, which could (and will) grow in circles larger than the circle of Scrooge's changed world.This is so very true, Petra!
Shirley, the warmth and love that John Forster has for Charles Dickens comes through strongly in his biographies. For that alone, I recommend these books. Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad my summaries help.
When Trotty got beside himself with joy upon seeing Meg and Richard, did anyone else think of the very funny scene in Dombey and Son, when Captain Cuttle just could not control himself with joy when (was it Walter Gay or Solomon Gills... my mind is not as sharp as it used to be. LOL) came home? I was really grinning during this scene, recalling that other scene.And... since the Chimes had been showing Trotty a possible future (as in A Christmas Carol), I'm really hoping the future will change for the good Mrs. Chickenstalker, and she will marry the good Will Fern rather than the parasite Mr. Tugby.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: " .....but yes... Trotty wasn't going to let the newspapers "trip him up anymore."..."Thank you, Connie and Shirley!
Duh! (bangs palm against forehead)......I didn't get this reference even after reading Connie's post.
Duh!!!!
Dickens is subtle! I thought Trotty tripped so that Dickens could give Richard time to reach Meg first......maybe saying that Meg is moving from her father's house into her (future) husband's house.
But I like Connie and Shirley's interpretation much, much better. Trotty will not be tripped up again.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "And... since the Chimes had been showing Trotty a possible future (as in A Christmas Carol), I'm really hoping the future will change for the good Mrs. Chickenstalker, and she will marry the good Will Fern rather than the parasite Mr. Tugby..."
Hear! Hear!
I had this hope, too. I do want this to happen. No jails in Will Fern's future; just happiness and family!
I hope this video brings a few smiles to everyone:The Chimes video:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...
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I like all your post very much, and what a great article! I'll save that, thank you.
Bionic Jean wrote: ""Shirley said "I think Utilitarianism missed the important point that it takes family and community to encourage someone's highest potentials. I can see how Dickens was so deeply affected by this l..."Aw... thank you, Jean! I appreciate your sweet words so much... particularly since I don't always understand what Dickens is trying to say. These discussions have been so helpful for me.
The Death Bed by Charles Green:
Here's the review that I posted. Although I claim ownership of and responsibility for the opinions, I hope I've done the discussion justice. It certainly made my reading much more enjoyable and infinitely more informed. Thanks for that:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nice review, Paul. We have a thread for personal reviews of Dickens' works, if you'd like to share it there. It might be seen by more members.
Thanks for the reminder. I need to update my post there as well.
You can find it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Will Fern Visits Meg by Charles Green
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Chimes (other topics)The Chimes (other topics)
The Life of Charles Dickens (other topics)
The Cricket on the Hearth (other topics)
The Chimes (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
George Alfred Williams (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
George Alfred Williams (other topics)
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George Alfred Williams (other topics)
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But some of these illustrations such as the Arthur Rackham one, and those by E.A. Abbey and Harry Furniss make me want to look further afield :)