The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Charles Dickens
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Dickens Project > Dickens Project : Background Information & Resources

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message 1: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments This is a thread providing information about Dickens and his life and times and for discussion of his novels in general. Please be careful of spoilers and put any such information between <> > marking it 'spoiler', so that it appears (view spoiler).

I have given the following background links in the Oliver Twist discussion but repost them here as a Resource. They are about mortality rates, diseases, foundling hospitals, baby farms and orphanages in Victorian London and about Dickens' career as a crusading journalist:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/vi...

http://www.victorianweb.org/science/h...

http://www.cottontimes.co.uk/poorlawo...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/...

http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/col...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_far...

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/...


message 2: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments Thank you.


message 3: by Kristen (new)

Kristen | 142 comments wow, the stats on mortality rates due to diseases are staggering.


message 4: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments Yes, I always think about Calcutta today when I read them. And I remember that it was because of such statistics that welfare reforms and payments were brought in, as well as housing for the Labouring Poor. I also think that 'those who forget their history are likely to repeat it'!


message 5: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments Charles Dickens and his contributions to the modern world. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16.... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article.


message 6: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments Here is a a list of programs from BBC radio 4. This short radio season will celebrate the works of Charles Dickens.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/dic...

Some of the shows are available as podcasts.
Radio 4 is an excellent resource especially for people who live outside the UK where BBC radio programs are not available.


message 7: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments Readers of Dickens might like to see this docu-drama of his life from the point of view of his misused and tragic wife:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV6dF2...


message 8: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments And one more link - the Guardian Books Podcast; this time it is Claire Tomalin discussing Charles Dickens and his Christmas Carol.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio...


message 9: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments I hope that fans of Dickens can pick up this really excellent programme of the history of Dickens on film, containing extracts from the earliest films to the present date.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...

If you can't pick it up, do look out for it either on PBS or on Youtube. This year is the 300th Anniversary of Dickens' death so in the UK we are being treated to some excellent programmes about him as well as new adaptations of his work, much of which is as pertinent in today's 'Hard Times' as it was in his.


message 10: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments Apparently Dickens was interested in interior decoration and this Guardian article has a slideshow of some interiors of his homes:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/galle...


message 11: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments Thank you.


message 12: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments Some BBC radio broadcasts on Dickens here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/charles_d...


message 13: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments An old film relating to Bleak House has been found:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...


message 14: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments That's interesting. Bleak House is my favorite novel by Dickens. Thank you


message 15: by Hedi (new)

Hedi | 1079 comments I do not know how reliable the following website is, but it seems to have some basic information about Charles Dickens and his works. As it is about Dickens in general, I am posting this here, also for our future reads:

http://charlesdickenspage.com/


message 16: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments A year-long challenge of reading all of Charles Dickens's novels:-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20...

Nah, pass! I read and love Dickens in weekly sections!


message 17: by Zulfiya (new)

Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments Here is a link to a blog entry where in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 Tim Parks elaborates on Dickens's routine of submitting a monthly installment and expecting feedback from his reader that would help him to shape and change the plot if necessary.

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/...


message 18: by msleighm (new)

msleighm FYI,
Classic: Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens, read by Charlton Griffin (Audio Connoisseur)
just won The Audio Publishers Association this year's Audie Award Classic selection.
Sorry it's a little disjointed, I cut and pasted from 2 different places, but I think you get the jist, if any one wants to read along...


message 19: by MadgeUK (new)

MadgeUK | 5213 comments That version is rather expensive Leigh:-

http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B008EX...

Librivox have an excellent free recording of Dombey read by Mil Nicolson:-

http://librivox.org/dombey-and-son-by...


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The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910

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