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Nicholas Nickleby
Nicholas Nickleby - Group Read 6
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Nicholas Nickleby: Intro comments and Chapters 1 - 10
THE FIVE SISTERS OF YORK
“The Five Sisters of York” - “Phiz” (Hablot Knight Browne) - May 1838
The Five Sisters of York - SUMMARYDuring the time of Henry IV, in the city of York, there lived five sisters. They were all beautiful. The eldest was twenty-three, and the youngest was sixteen. The youngest was the loveliest and the most beloved, and she in turn adored her sisters and was very merry.
They lived in a wooden house near an abbey of Benedictine monks, and they pay dues to the Abbey. One day, a monk paid them a visit and criticized them passing the time doing embroidery. One of the sisters tells him they have done their duties and can enjoy themselves. The monk says there are better occupations for the soul than a decorative ornament that appeals to vanity.
The youngest, who was called Alice, tells the monk that their dearly departed mother instructed them before she died to continue the embroidery as it would serve as a reminder in their adult years of the bonds they forged together in their youth.
The monk encourages them to become nuns, but Alice pleads with her sisters to not choose a life of stone and bars. The sisters agree. Though the abbey was left as their guardian when they were orphaned, they are not obligated to devote their life to the veil.
The monk tells them that worldly baubles and attachment eventually lead to heartbreak. The cloister may become more appealing later. He tells them to turn to it when the time comes.
War enters their lives, and with-it turmoil. As time passes, a couple of the sisters leave to become wives. Some other sisters stay. Many years in the future, when the sisters are elderly, the monk pays a visit to their home. It is now silent and neglected. Alice has died. The sisters are all widows. The monk again encourages them to become nuns. They decide against it, remembering how Alice abhorred the idea.
Their embroidery, long finished, is still in the home. It reminds them deeply of their dear sister, Alice. They find artists who turn their embroidery pattern into stain glassed windows for the minster nave. In time, the sisters die. Their graves are lost with time, but the stained-glass windows remain to this day, and the windows are known as “the five sisters of York”.
We shall leave our story here for today and pick up with the conversation between the “melancholy gentleman” (who just told this story) and the merry-faced gentleman who will tell us tomorrow’s tale.
Why two stories within a story . . . .At the very beginning of our read, Jean told us that Nicholas Nickleby would not be a straightforward novel. That it would encompass some of the writing styles we’ve seen in “Tom Jones” and “Tristram Shandy”. Jean also mentioned in post #276 that Dickens was feeling pressure to keep up with all the things he was writing as this time, particularly Nicholas Nickleby.
Now, those of us who read "Tristam Shandy" together last year (or have read it on their own), will certainly recognize the similarities with this chapter. In “Tristam Shandy” one would be reading along with the plot (such as it was) and suddenly one character or another would set off telling us a completely different story. The story of Diego and Julia for example.
When Dickens found himself unprepared for the Nicholas Nickleby deadline, he had plenty of examples from the books of his youth where authors took their readers on detours through other stories. I suspect he had “The Five Sisters” and “Barn Grogzwig” already written, and plopped them down in the middle of this chapter to give himself some much needed respite.
In my opinion, the story of “The Five Sisters of York” is interesting as a stand-alone story. The cathedral of York is, of course, a real place. 
Here’s a brief Wiki description:
York Minster, formally the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, is an Anglican cathedral in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. The minster is the seat of the archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the mother church for the diocese of York and the province of York. It is administered by its dean and chapter. The minster is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.
Here's two links to read more about York Minster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Mi...
https://yorkminster.org/
And the Minster (or Cathedral) does indeed have five stained glass windows that are known to this day as the five sisters of York.
Again, a brief wiki description:
York Minster's Five Sisters window contains the largest expanse of 13th century grisaille glass in the world. It was built c.1250–1260 and is located in the north wall of the north transept of York Minster. The window features in the Guinness Book of Records as "the largest ancient stained-glass window in the British Isles."
The window was restored between 1923 and 1925 and rededicated to all the women of the British Empire who were killed in the line of duty during World War I. It is the only memorial in the UK dedicated to these women.
Here's a link to read more about the stained-glass sisters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Si...
Lastly, (and with apologies for posting so many comments) I wanted to add something that struck me when reading the “Five Sisters” story. It has a fairytale feel to me. The five sisters, so beautiful and wholesome seem right out of a fable. Even the description of their house seems like it's made for a fairy story, like it’s one with nature. ”they dwelt in an old wooden house--old even in those days--with overhanging gables and balconies of rudely-carved oak, which stood within a pleasant orchard, and was surrounded by a rough stone wall”
I’m also struck by the innocence, goodness and beauty of Alice, who is only 16 at the beginning of the story. I wonder if she is a memory of Mary Hogarth surfacing in Dickens writing yet again. Mary Hogarth died in May 1837. This installment was published in April 1838, which is almost the one-year anniversary of her passing. Anyone who has lost someone precious knows that first anniversary of their death is very difficult.
Okay, that's all from me. At least for now. Thanks so much for reading through all these posts :-)
Bridget, thank you for sharing the history of the Five Sisters windows. I also was thinking about the death of Mary Hogarth when reading that Alice had died. I think Dickens always held that image of Mary as an ideal woman in his mind. (While Kate aged and gained weight after so many pregnancies and responsibilities, Mary remained young, beautiful, and carefree forever at seventeen years old in Dickens' thoughts.)
Hello Bridget, and thank you so much for sharing the load here. Often when I'm reading, I find myself thinking about how much work goes into these summaries and explanations. We really appreciate it!I had the good fortune to visit York Minster once, so I was excited to read this story, and agree it had a fable feeling. I tend to resist these asides, since I'm kind of a character-driven reader, but if I just remind myself to slow down and appreciate them, it can be fun to find ways to tie them into the main story. I too thought of Mary Hogarth, and also of Nicholas missing his mother and sister.
"The veil, daughters, the veil!""Never, sisters," cried Alice. Barter not the light and air of heaven, and the freshness of earth and all the beautiful things which breathe upon it, for the cold cloister and the cell."
I know that I frequently let my atheistic beliefs and my tendency to be strongly anti-religious colour my comments, but this one spoke to me. I loved how Dickens gave Alice the strength to stand up to the monk's misogynistic bullying
Bionic Jean wrote: "That's really interesting! Thank you for sharing that, Lois. Which edition are you reading? Looking up Moreland Perkins I find he is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, and is 97!..."
Hi Jean--I'm sorry, I missed your comment earlier.
My copy is a "First Edition Facsimile" from 1983 by Avenel Books, with illustrations by Phiz. I see that I bought it secondhand for $3, and I think that was a steal!
While it's easy to conclude that Dickens inserted a couple of diversionary tales into this chapter to buy himself some time, I'm not entirely convinced that waxing philosophical and emulating the practices or styles of other writers showed him in his best light. The tale of the Five Sisters is a gloomy little parable that almost harkens back to Chaucer. It provokes a less than inspiring little philosophical discussion among the passengers at the inn and they (like us) look forward to what may be a more cheerful tale to follow.
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Yes, Charles Dickens did look about him for stories he had not used before, to fill this installment while he was busy with Oliver Twist and other commitments. However I think the contrast is a good idea; a melancholy story followed by a merry one, and as you say, a throwback to the 18th century style he favoured.
Like you, I was struck by its fairy tale quality, a bit reminiscent of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" by the Brothers Grimm. And yes, as Connie says, we can easily imagine it being written when Mary Hogarth was also 16.
Thank you Lois!
Thank you for this! I appreciate the rich context. Back to following these many comments and continuing with the story. Bridget wrote: "In my opinion, the story of “The Five Sisters of York” is interesting as a stand-alone story. The cathedral of York is, of course, a real place.
Here’s a brief Wiki description:
York Minster, ..."
Thank you everyone for the wonderful comments today.Connie, I really like your observation "While Kate aged and gained weight after so many pregnancies and responsibilities, Mary remained young, beautiful, and carefree forever at seventeen years old in Dickens' thoughts". I hadn't thought about it that way before, but this makes so much sense.
And Kathleen, how marvelous that you've been to York Minster. It looks majestic in the pictures I looked at online. I can imagine Charles Dickens was enthralled with it when he and Forester made their reconnaissance trip to Yorkshire. I'm sure that's the inspiration for this story.
Edit: It was Phiz, not Forester, who made the trip with Dickens to Yorkshire (thanks Jean!!)
Paul wrote: "I loved how Dickens gave Alice the strength to stand up to the monk's misogynistic bullying"Yes, I too like that Alice had the fortitude to stand up to a church official and choose family over monastic life. Not an easy thing for the youngest, orphaned girl to do. The monk is definitely supposed to be the "dark cloud" of the story, though I do think he's sincere in his belief that the girls will be safer in the convent than in the wide world. Charles Dickens famously clung to his Christian belief all his life but had zero tolerance for the hypocrisy of the church and also the hypocrisy of parishioners who talked the life of Christ, but didn't walk the path. The monk falls into that category, I think.
Jim wrote: "While it's easy to conclude that Dickens inserted a couple of diversionary tales into this chapter to buy himself some time, I'm not entirely convinced that waxing philosophical and emulating the p..."I like the reference to Chaucer, Jim. Seems appropriate to me. The story tomorrow has more humor, but I wouldn't call it uplifting in subject matter. But more about that tomorrow.
I did not find this story to be entirely melancholy. The sisters had hardships in their lives and they all died in the end, probably from old age, I think, except for Alice. But they created something beautiful that outlasted them and was probably inspirational to those who worshipped in the church. If they had all become nuns they would probably not have left much behind that lasted longer than they did.On another note, I am wondering if the letter from Noggs survived the accident. If it did, I hope Nicholas still has it and it did not fall into the wrong hands. I am looking forward to seeing what it says.
Thank you Bridget for your great posts!I agree with some of you, the Five Sisters of York feels like a parable, and we are attempted to find an interpretation of it with might cast a light on the present story or perhaps predict something about the story we are reading (Nicholas Nickleby).
Or it feels like a fairy tale - like Jean I was reminded of Grimm tales, which often feature twelve brothers, seven sisters, or what else: seven ravens, etc.
Both interpretations are possible, as the storyteller seems to be rather serious, but it also may be just a story for the sake of the story itself, as the travellers are in Yorkshire, not far from the York minster and its beautiful windows, stuck somewhere and waiting for their trip to resume.
Katy wrote: "On another note, I am wondering if the letter from Noggs survived the accident. If it did, I hope Nicholas still has it and it did not fall into the wrong hands."I think we are all waiting for that secret to be revealed! I'm sure Dickens first audience felt much the same way. But, alas, we have one more interlude before our story resumes. So, as Claudia notes, like the passengers in the coach, sitting together at the Inn, we shall have to wait for the Nicholas story to resume.
So without further ado . . . . On to the Baron of Grogzwig
THE BARON OF GROGZWIG
"Halloo," replied the Stranger, by Charles Stanley Reinhart (1875), in Charles Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Harper & Bros. New York Household Edition, copied from The Victorian Web
"On the opposite side of the fire, there sat with folded arms a wrinkled hideous figure", illustrated by Fred Barnard in Household Edition, copied from The Victorian Web
SUMMARY - "The Baron of Grogzwig"Grogzwig was a baron who lived in an old, eerie, possibly haunted castle in Germany. Strange sounds and light effects within the castle were blamed on the ghost of a traveler who had been murdered by one of the baron’s ancestors.
Grogzwig lived a life of pleasure, happily hunting and drinking with his friends/comrades in arms every day. They are a rough bunch of men, who seem to bully the other nearby gentry.
However, in time he grew weary of his companions and yearned for excitement. He decides to marry a fellow baron’s daughter. The daughter offers no resistance.
No sooner is he married than his wife demands that he send away his friends. This is the first of many demands, and gradually the baron becomes a hen-pecked husband. They have twelve children.
Grogzwig’s wealth diminishes as he supports his in-laws and so many children. Plus he's not going around taking riches from other Barons anymore because his wife has convinced him to dismiss his band of merry men. When his wife is pregnant with their thirteenth child, the Baron realizes he has no money. He decides to commit suicide.
He is reflecting upon his life while smoking his pipe for the last time. Suddenly, a wrinkled creature appears before him, identifying himself as the "Genius of Despair and Suicide". This creature uses a stake that is driven through its heart as a cane. He is in a hurry for the baron to off himself, for there are many people who want to commit suicide in these times—and so the creature’s schedule is rather busy. In fact, there is a man who wants to kill himself because he has too much money. The baron thinks this is stupid, and the creature says that it is no more stupid that killing yourself for having a lack of money.
The baron suddenly realizes that the creature is right. He decides he doesn’t want to kill himself. He decides instead to stem the flow of money going to his in-laws and enjoy his life. He dies many years later, still not a rich man, but a happy man.
When the story concludes, the new coach has arrived.
Even though this tale deals with a dark subject (suicide and depression), there is more wit and humor in this story than the first. To begin with the name of the main character is making fun of alcohol. "Koeldwethout" means "Cold Without", which (according to the notes in my edition) is a drink of spirits with cold water. And of course, "Grogzwig" is a pun for taking a swig of grog.
Personally, I chuckled when the first Baron Grogzwig felt bad about murdering the stranger and so to make amends, he
"layed violent hands upon a quantity of stone and timber which belonged to a weaker baron, built a chapel as an apology, and so took receipt from Heaven in full of all demands"
or there is also this gem:
"no Member of Parliament ought to be married, inasmuch as three married members out of every four, must vote according to their wives' consciences"
This is classic Dickensian wit!
And yet, here is also a man who becomes so depressed that he's willing to end his life. The fact that this does not, in the end happen, keeps this story light. And turns it into a "ghost story" worth remembering.
Ghost Stories and DickensDickens enjoyed, for the better part of a century, a reputation as one of the greatest writers of ghost stories in the language. Today, we don't always remember him as a writer of supernatural stories, but it is a description he deserves. For example, many people forget that A Christmas Carol is at heart a ghost story.
Here are some of his genuine masterpieces of the genre, many of which we have already read as a group:
To Be Read at Dusk, The Hanged Man’s Bride, The Trial for Murder, The Signal-Man - four excellent ghost stories
A Madman’s Manuscript and The Mother’s Eyes, two grisly tales of psychological horror.
The Goblin Who Stole a Sexton, a supernatural allegory akin to "The Baron" and "A Christmas Carol".
In addition to all that, he was also a big influence on later writers of scary stories: Edgar Allan Poe, M. R. James, and J. Sheridan Le Fanu.
Happily, today, we just read another gem of a ghost story. What a wonderful way to pass the time. For the travellers in Nicholas Nickleby and for ourselves.
What are your thoughts about this story? Did you like it better than "The Five Sisters of York"?
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Since you ask, I have to admit that I personally prefer the second story, because of its trademark Dickensian humour, as you say. The Five Sisters of York was very sweet, but the style was just that bit too sentimental for me to enjoy fully. But this is very much in keeping with Charles Dickens too! He loved his sentiment, his pathos and his melodrama. I though am a sucker for both ghost stories and wit! 😆 Oh and with the Five Sisters I always think of Peter! (Hi Peter!) We used to play a Dickens game where you had to think of a character whose name (the initials of either first or last name) began with the next letter in the alphabet. Now try to think of a Dickens character beginning with Y ... but Peter always nailed it each time through, with "one of those Five Sisters of York ... OK then - the next one!" 😂😂
And since you mention A Christmas Carol, I will tell you something I found quite shocking. There was a TV quiz programme the other day which apparently asked "How many ghosts were there in A Christmas Carol?" The contestant said 4 - which is quite correct (3 Spirits plus Marley) but was not given the point - lost the round - and told it was incorrect! I think the question-setter should have been fired! 😡
Sorry - diversions here, but merry and another contrasting emotion. Perhaps the travellers also had other diversions in their coach journey ...
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Nowadays, using motorways, the drive takes 4 hrs, 37 mins by car, which makes you think 🤔
I think having a different voice to represent the different voices in the carriage has worked perfectly ... and especially YOU Bridget, who have explored and presented these stories in far more depth than I would have managed. Thank you! 🥰
Bridget wrote: "Why two stories within a story . . . .At the very beginning of our read, Jean told us that Nicholas Nickleby would not be a straightforward novel. That it would encompass some of th..."
Yes. I agree with your idea that our two present stories under consideration were “plopped down’ (my how I love that phrase) at least partly to give Dickens a chance to regroup, reorganize, and rethink what to do next.
The Five Sisters of York is a delight and I too see it as having some resonance with Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales.’ The story contains a mature insight into human beings, the church, and the concept of belief. I am constantly amazed with Dickens’s grasp of human nature at such an early age.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Wonderful posts again, thanks Bridget! I hadn't seen those illustrations before .. and would you believe I never twigged that "Grogzwig" was a pun on guzzling wine! I just thought it was vaguely Ge..."Nobody mentioned that pun's hilarious partner! Who better to become the Lady of Grogzwig than the daughter of the Baron von Swillenhausen ... obviously, the Baron of the House of greedily quaffing vast quantities of ale, a suitably Germanic past-time.
I thought the portrayal of the relationship between Grogzwig and his demanding wife was hilarious. I'll admit that, for no reason apparent to me, I immediately pictured Grogzwig as a corpulent Horace Rumpole and his dear wife as "She Who Must Be Obeyed"!
Thank you, Bridget, for bringing the stories to life for me. I was so irritated with Dickens for sticking them into the book, because he can’t keep up with himself, that I read them just to get them read. I did the same thing he did, really: he inserted them to get the job done and I read them to get them read. I need to go back and give them their due.I did note the voting comment. Yup. Listen to your wife!
Thanks Bridget for the summary and notes on the two seeming extraneous stories. I accept the explanation of a time-filler role for these stories and as this type of digression was standard, I have no problem with the deviation from Aristotlean unity. Dickens being young and familiar with the variety in magazine writing also may have considered variety more valuable than unity. He had achieved success with it in Sketches and Pickwick. There may be other motivations, like the Mary Hogarth homage, behind their insertion and would be interested if the members see any as we read further. One thing to consider might be why Dickens chose these specific two stories as their proximity prompts comparison. But I noticed nothing that stood out for me in comparison. They do reflect different witing styles and Dickens may have been showing off some versatilty. Nonetheless they are both quite enjoyable. Did anyone else catch the resemblance between Terry Pratchett's "Death," and the "Genius of Despair and Suicide?" It made me wonder if Dickens' character was an early potetial source for Pratchett's.
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So great pick, Sam! Another inspired thought. 😊
Sam wrote: "Thanks Bridget for the summary and notes on the two seeming extraneous stories. I accept the explanation of a time-filler role for these stories and as this type of digression was standard, I have ..."Wow ... if some of us found it irksome to wait until tomorrow to read further in the story, imagine what the reaction of his contemporaneous readers might have been when it was being published in serial form. They might have been forced to wait weeks to get back on track!
How appropriate to get a bona fide ghost story just as we are getting into spooky season! I much preferred the Baron story over the Sisters tale, although I agree with other posters about its Chaucerian vibe. Although the spirit's job is clearly to help those who are depressed to follow through on their intentions, you do have to wonder how many times he failed at that task given how effective he was convincing the Baron to do the exact opposite. I have been intermixing listening on audiobook and reading a physical copy, and while the audiobook can be entertaining, and works well when I'm on the go and don't have time to sit down for a proper read, I find I get a much better understanding and immersion into the book when I'm reading it. I'm curious if the contemporaneous Dickens crowd also felt a difference in the various reading formats, although for those who couldn't read, they wouldn't have known any other experience.
I’m thinking about Paul’s statement, above, about waiting a month for the continuation of the book. If this was the last chapter for the month, I don’t think I would be interested enough to buy the next issue. Still, I might just wonder enough about the letter Noggs handed to Nicholas to spend a few pennies on it. Fortunately, we have another chapter, I think, of this issue.It takes a certain skill to make the reader want to buy the next issue, or just read the next chapter of any novel.
Kathleen wrote: "Hello Bridget, and thank you so much for sharing the load here. Often when I'm reading, I find myself thinking about how much work goes into these summaries and explanations. We really appreciate i..."I appreciate all of this work as well. Thank you!!
I had to force myself to slow down and savour these stories. The interuption wasn't something I expected or usually have much patience for. But because of the way we're reading this together, I was able to take it slow and appreciate the stories for what they were.
Katy wrote: "I did not find this story to be entirely melancholy. The sisters had hardships in their lives and they all died in the end, probably from old age, I think, except for Alice. But they created someth..."I agree with you, Katy. I thought the lines Alice spoke about life, death, beauty, and nature were beautiful and uplifting. Speaking of death is one thing but the way she framed it made it even seem beautiful. "To die is our heavy portion, but, oh, let us die with life about us; when our cold hearts cease to beat, let warm heart be beating near; let our last look be upons the bounds which God has set to his own bright skies, and not on the stone walls and bars of iron! Dear sisters, let us live and die, if you list, in this green garden's compass; only shun the gloom and sadness of a cloister, and we shall be happy."
Oh yes, and the letter from Noggs! I'm so curious what it contains.
Kathleen wrote: "I’m thinking about Paul’s statement, above, about waiting a month for the continuation of the book. If this was the last chapter for the month, I don’t think I would be interested enough to buy the..."What an interesting thought, that people had to purchase the next installment! I'm with you Kathleen -- the cliff hanger about the Noggs letter would have gotten me to buy the next issue. There are of course other things that would have kept me wanting to read.
I do appreciate the contrast of the two short stories. It was an interesting diversion for sure.
Kelly wrote: "I had to force myself to slow down and savour these stories. "I'm listening to Mil Nicholson's Librivox audiobook recording and I thoroughly enjoyed both stories. She read them in two entirely distinct voices and accents. That really accentuated the story line that the tales were being told to pass time by two different gentlemen who happened to meet Nicholas Nickleby and Wackford Squeers on the coach and were thrown together by virtue of the coach overturning.
Kathleen wrote: It takes a certain skill to make the reader want to buy the next issue, or just read the next chapter of any novel.I liked how you phrased that statement and couldn't agree more. It doesn't have to be a cliff-hanger either, but just a simple question like what's in that letter? or even a hope regarding how the story will turn out (such as maybe Nicholas will stand up for the poor boys under Mr. Squeers 'care').
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When they reach their last stop, Mr. Squeers “stretches his legs” again to get a drink at the inn, leaving Nicholas with the boys while the horses are changed. Then a rusty pony-chaise and a cart arrive. Squeers tells Nicholas to put the boys into the cart with the luggage, while they both get into the chaise:
“They started off, leaving the cart-load of infant misery to follow at leisure.”
The journey is bitterly cold. Squeers tells Nicholas that the school is given the fancy name of Dotheboys Hall to impress Londoners. It is not really a Hall at all, and when they arrive, Nicholas sees that it is a:
“long, cold-looking house, one storey high, with a few straggling out-buildings behind, and a barn and stable adjoining.”
Bowes Academy - photo of actual building taken in 1903; by then it had become known as Dotheboys Hall! Francis Frith Collection
A “a tall lean boy, with a lantern in his hand” appears, and Squeers is angry with him for not coming promptly. “Smike”, for so he calls the lad, humbly tells Squeers that “Missus” had allowed him to warm himself by the kitchen fire, and he fell asleep. Squeers denounces her as a fool, saying that the boy would have been wide awake if he had stayed in the cold. He orders that the pony is not to be given any corn that night, and directs Nicholas to wait there.
“A host of unpleasant misgivings, which had been crowding upon Nicholas during the whole journey, thronged into his mind with redoubled force when he was left alone. His great distance from home and the impossibility of reaching it, except on foot, should he feel ever so anxious to return, presented itself to him in most alarming colours; and as he looked up at the dreary house and dark windows, and upon the wild country round, covered with snow, he felt a depression of heart and spirit which he had never experienced before.”
Squeers calls him in saying: “the wind blows in, at this door, fit to knock a man off his legs.”
“Mr. Whackford Squeers - J. Clayton Clarke (”Kyd”)
A large women bounces into the room with a playful “How is my Squeery?” When he asks, she tells her husband, that the pigs and sheep are fine, and when Squeers mentions the boys, answers snappishly that one of them is ill. She thinks this child is obstinate, always catching cold on purpose, and she thinks the best remedy would be a sound beating.
Squeers introduces his “new young man” and his wife looks Nicholas up and down, eyeing him coldly. She says they will manage to put him up somehow, and the two make a joke about how lucky it is that Nicholas is not particular.
Smike looks longingly at the letters Squeers has brought that are addressed to some of the boys at the school. Smike’s:
“anxious and timid expression … at the papers … was a very painful one, and went to Nicholas’s heart at once; for it told a long and very sad history …
[His look was] so keen, and yet so dispirited and hopeless, that Nicholas could hardly bear to watch him.”
Although Smike is eighteen or nineteen years old, he has to wear the same clothes he came to the school in as a young child. The narrator comments: “Heaven knows how long he had been there.” When Smike asks Mr. Squeers if anybody asked about him, Squeers replies in the negative, reminding Smike that he has kept him all these years, despite the fact that he received no money after the first six years.
As Smike limps away. Mrs Squeers wonders to herself if he’s losing his mind, and we hear Squeers’ true thoughts:
“I hope not … for he’s a handy fellow out of doors, and worth his meat and drink, anyway. I should think he’d have wit enough for us though, if he was.”
Squeers tucks into a prime steak, and on his wife asking what “Mr Knuckleboy” should eat, allows him something. Nicholas suggests a little of the pie, politely indicating that he does not need much, whereupon Mrs Squeers says it would be a pity to cut into it in that case. Nicholas readily agrees to whatever she wishes, and she “was glad to find the young man knew his station”.
Squeers comment how juicy the steak is, and his wife says
“‘I bought a good large piece of it myself on purpose for—’
‘For what!’ exclaimed Squeers hastily. ‘Not for the—’“
Evidently he is aghast at the idea that it was for the boys, but Mrs Squeers reassures him that it is especially for him, only. The narrator then comments that Mr Squeers does buy meat for the boys, joking sarcastically that it is because he is opposed to cruelty to animals.
[We deduce that because this is “the bodies of horned cattle who had died a natural death” the boys are given diseased, or stringy old meat.]
The five new arrivals are given a little porridge and sent to bed sleeping “side by side, in a small bedstead, to warm each other, and dream of a substantial meal”.
They discuss where Nicholas could sleep, suggesting a bedstead which already has 4 boys in, but decide he should stay where he is for the meantime. He must be up and ready at 7 o’clock the next morning.
Nicholas plans to make the best of things for his family’s sake. As he is preparing for bed, the letter Newman Noggs gave him falls out. It tells him that his father had been kind to Noggs. Noggs writes that if he ever needs a place to stay in London, they know where he lives at the Crown Inn, in Silver Street, Golden Square. A P.S. to the note adds:
“If you should go near Barnard Castle, [this is a town, not an actual castle!] there is good ale at the King’s Head. Say you know me, and I am sure they will not charge you for it. You may say Mr. Noggs there, for I was a gentleman then. I was indeed.”
“Newman Noggs - Sol Eytinge, Jr. - 1867”
At this, tears fill Nicholas’s eyes.
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William Bowes and his Academy
I’ll link to the site about Bowes Academy once more, in case you missed it http://www.researchers.plus.com/shaw.htm
It is well worth reading! In his 1839 Preface, Charles Dickens wrote of this headmaster, who was prosecuted for his treatment of the boys, but who was still running his “Academy” when Charles Dickens wrote Nicholas Nickleby . Yet by 1848, his second Preface states that there were “very few” Yorkshire cheap schools in existence at all!
This fact is corroborated in various places. The American writer Francis Parkman Jnr. who wrote The Oregon Trail (1849) visited the area in 1843, noting in his diary:
“We visited the veritable Dotheboys Hall of Dickens, exactly answering to his description, in appearance, in all things. It is deserted utterly - Nicholas Nickleby ruined not only this establishment alone, but many other schools with which this vicinity abounds, though some of the latter were in no way objectionable.”
There are others who expressed reservations. William Makepeace Thackeray alluded to a letter complaining that: “Mr Dickens ill-advised publication has passed like a whirlwind over the schools of the North” in “English Humourists” (1911)
Not all the boys were “unwanted” or illegitimate. William Bowes had made the school sound so attractive and affordable, that some were fooled into thinking they were helping their child to get a good education, but could not afford to go and check. This is from his advert in the eminently respectable “The Times” newspaper in 1815:
“At BOWES-HALL ACADEMY, near Greta-Bridge, Yorkshire, Mr CLARKSON BOARDS, and, in conjunction with able assistants, instructs young Gentlemen in the English, Latin, and Greek languages, writing, arithmetic, merchants’ accounts, mensuration, and the most useful branches of mathematics, at 20 guineas per annum, if under 10 years of age; above 10, and under 14, 22 guineas; the French language at 2 guineas a year extra: to such parents and guardians as may be induced to send their children or wards to a distance from the metropolis, Mr, C. takes the liberty of recommending his academy, as well for the salubrity of its situation, and other local advantages, as on account of the attention paid by him to the personal comfort and literary improvement of his pupils.”
Here is just one account by an 11 year old boy, under a spoiler to save space as it is long:
(view spoiler)
There is much more on the website.
When Charles Dickens’s serial came out, people were shocked and scandalised, but wanted to read more ... A very strong indication to me that Charles Dickens was absolutely right to want to entertain and put an air of comicality over the disgraceful practices there. Word got round and the public demanded a stop be put to these schools. Soon afterwards, they had all closed down. No wonder Charles Dickens was proud!
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Lots of readers are considering the reality of reading serial publications, which we are following, (but fully six times as fast!) So here’s a link again to the post about where the breaks were, and are LINK HERE.
As Kathleen (in Knoxville, not Kathleen C. - thanks for this helpful tag K.C.) observed, there was this one extra chapter in installment 2, after the interpolated stories. This is so clever of Charles Dickens, to place them bang in the middle of the installment, between chapters 5 and 7.
Now he has refreshed our memories about Squeers, and introduced another appallingly awful comic grotesque in Mrs Squeers, with her “Squeery” and condescending “Mr Knuckleboy”. Plus a pathetic young man we must pity: Smike, who is about the same age as Nicholas, but has had such a different life. We are intrigued once more, to know how this will continue. Laura and Paul have pointed up the importance of ”keeping people reading”.
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And did you noticed the reference to Nicholas falling into a magnetic slumber? This really stood out to me after all our explorations into “animal magnetism” and mesmerism which preoccupied Charles Dickens at this time. But he seems to have reserved his most obvious mesmeric episodes for Oliver Twist, which he was writing alongside. Chapman and Hall had asked for another novel in the same style as The Pickwick Papers, so it must have been a relief for Charles Dickens to turn his hand to Nicholas Nickleby each day after writing an episode of Oliver Twist (His routine was to write them that way round, according to John Forster.)
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Or, in another vein entirely, the “cart-load of infant misery.” 🥹
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So ... the question raised by the cliffhanger is resolved, as we learn of Noggs’s kind offer of assistance - and also can tell a little more about the man, I think. And we have yet more questions now. See everyone on Wednesday!
Thank you Jean for this summary of a not really glorious arrival at Dotheboys Hall, no hall at all indeed. Thank you for the valuable background information too!Very fortunately, Charles Dickens, through Nicholas Nickleby, ruined Bowes Academy and all those similar. It shows how some writers and, later, journalists like Albert Londres (particularly Au bagne, concerning the Cayenne Penal Colony ) were efficiently contributing to alert their readers on disgraceful situations and abolish them.
How unexpected and considerate of Mr Nogg for offering his help just in case. This casts a different light on Mr Ralph's employee and we hope to hear more about him.
Paul wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I had to force myself to slow down and savour these stories. "I'm listening to Mil Nicholson's Librivox audiobook recording and I thoroughly enjoyed both stories. She read them in t..."
How nice to have different voices for each story. Without speeding on to the next part of Nicholas's story, as I would have done if we weren't reading it in this manner, for a few days I've been able to sit and marinate on this scene. It brought to life the waiting the characters needed to do and better immersed me in their experience!
So many feelings in this chapter. I enjoyed having my skin crawl a bit with Mrs. Squeers, pitying poor Smike, and the way Dickens shows us how the realization dawns, slowly and painfully, on Nicholas.And then, the mystery of Noggs being revealed just a smidge. I thought it was all so well done, and leaves us hankering for more!
What a public service Dickens provided in exposing these schools in a way that would resonate best with people--through a story. He was right to be proud. Thank you so much for this info, Jean!
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Kelly - "Without speeding on to the next part of Nicholas's story, as I would have done if we weren't reading it in this manner, for a few days I've been able to sit and marinate on this scene."
YAY! That's exactly how I was hoping others would react, as I felt that too! In our 21st century way, we are impatient, and limit ourselves to what we expect. So why not indulge ourselves and reflect Charles Dickens's metafiction with a "meta" approach of our own!
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Artful Dickens: The Tricks and Ploys of the Great Novelist (other topics)Dickens and the Artists (other topics)
Nicholas Nickleby (other topics)
Oliver Twist (other topics)
David Copperfield (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
John Mullan (other topics)Paul Schlicke (other topics)
Sybil Thorndike (other topics)
Paul Schlicke (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
More...
Greetings everyone! And welcome to the “new voice” Jean mentioned. Surprise, it is me! Since Dickens has shifted his narrative completely, we thought it would be fun to shift the hosting of this thread for a couple days as well (though I’m sure Jean is reading along with us 😊.)
Today we’ll be talking about “The Five Sisters of York” and tomorrow we will discuss “The Baron of Grogzwig”. Hopefully you’ve read to the end of that first story and come back here to see what others thought. If you’ve read all the way to the end, please hold your “Grogzwig” comments for tomorrow.
But first the beginning of Chapter 6. As you will recall, we left our hero and the other characters in an overturned coach on a wintry night. The chapter starts with some dialect from the guard which some of us may have struggled to understand. With Jean’s help, I’m starting this summary with a bit of a translation.
SUMMARY
First the guard cries, “Is there any gentleman who can lend a hand here?” Nicholas asks sleepily “what’s the matter” and the guard basically says:
“Matter man, matter enough for one night ... damn the walleyed bay [horse], he's gone mad with glory I think, because the coach [has turned] over. Here, can’t you lend a hand? Damn it, I'd [still] have done it [even] if all my bones were broken."
Nicholas answers that he’s only a little “abroad”, which I take to mean a little disheveled after the coach over tuning. So, the guard implores him to
“Hold them tight [the horses], while I cut the traces [reins]. Hang on to them somehow. Well done my "lord" [Nicholas is in his best clothes and looks like a gentleman}. That's it. Let them go now. Damn them, they'll go home fast enough”
Which, in fact happens as the horses trot back to their stable.
Then the guard asks, “Can you blow a horn?”
(Recall in Chapter 5 the guard had ”blown himself quite out of breadth, he put the horn into a little tunnel of a basket fastened to the coach-side”).
Nicholas answers that he can, and so the guard says
“Then just blow away into that one who lies on the ground, fit [enough] to waken the dead, will you ... while I stop some of this here squealing inside, Come on, come on. Don't make that noise, woman.”
The horses untangled, the guard goes on to rescue the other passengers, while Nicholas blows the horn and soon assistance arrives. All the passengers survived the accident with just minor injuries.
They walk to the nearest public house. The guard goes to get another coach. The passengers make small talk, giving Squeers another opportunity to advertise his school. The good-tempered gentleman suggests hot punch, a grey-haired man of “genteel appearance, dressed in mourning” agrees and after awhile they decide to pass the time by telling stories.
The melancholy, grey-haired gentleman tells this story first “The Five Sisters of York”