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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
It took me ages to finish it... The story itself is very interesting, but I didn’t like the way it was told. It was chaotic and, in my opinion, not well presented.
My favorite biographies give me a sense of who the subject truly was so that I might imagine how they would interact with others, spend their free time, etc. I had not realized in the case of Nelly Ternan that much of the primary sources of her life was intentionally destroyed to protect Dickens’ reputation. Because of this the main feat of this book was piecing together what little evidence there was of Nelly - a disinterment rather than a resurrection. There were many details that went over my head. I didn’t particularly agree with Tomalin’s literary analysis. She seemed to almost despise Dickens and how he treated the women in his life, especially Nelly. Perhaps this was because most Dickens biographies vilify Nelly, so she wanted to offer an opposing interpretation of the evidence. Whatever the reason, it was one sided. I’m glad to have learned a bit about Dickens so I don’t have to read an entire biography dedicated to him. He seemed like the sort of man who would use up his generosity and kindness on strangers and have none left for his family.
I'd give it five, because I'm not sure how she could have done much better, but it WAS rather dry at times, so. One star knocked off, Tomalin. But seriously, she doesn't have a lot to work with. That's why it's The INVISIBLE Woman.
What a fascinating, intriguing story that was almost lost to history! This is biography of the very best kind, reconstructing Nelly Ternan's life from just snippets and fragments, portraying a life that was lived almost entirely in the shadows. It would have been a great loss to posterity had this aspect of Dickens' life being entirely obliterated, as so much effort was put into attempting.
Dickens has never been one of my favourite authors, for a multitude of reasons - so I came to this book with no real preconceived notions of the man or his work. Dickens' life itself was almost a complete blank to me, but in his day he was very much held up as the model Victorian gentlemen - honest, hardworking, industrious, generous to the poor, a paragon of domesticity. That in many respects he was no such thing should come as no surprise - these days it seems rare to come across any Victorian without some kind of dark murky secret. Such are the perils, no doubt, of an era that extolled uprightness, righteous, honour and domestic chivalry - who could ever live up to such things?
It is hard to know what to make of Dickens' relationship with Nelly Ternan, not just because there is so little real evidence and so much conjecture involved. It all smacks very much of the typical midlife crisis - a middle-aged man tiring of his middle-aged wife and family, lusting after a woman young enough to be his daughter. Indeed, there was something immensely Freudian about the relationship, on both sides. I had very little sympathy with Dickens in reading this, and an immense amount of sympathy for Nelly. It is hard to see what other options Nelly had in life, with her situtation, family and background; and Dickens' treatment of his wife and the sheer mental contortions and complexities of his double life do not leave him emerging from this story with much dignity or honour.
Dickens has never been one of my favourite authors, for a multitude of reasons - so I came to this book with no real preconceived notions of the man or his work. Dickens' life itself was almost a complete blank to me, but in his day he was very much held up as the model Victorian gentlemen - honest, hardworking, industrious, generous to the poor, a paragon of domesticity. That in many respects he was no such thing should come as no surprise - these days it seems rare to come across any Victorian without some kind of dark murky secret. Such are the perils, no doubt, of an era that extolled uprightness, righteous, honour and domestic chivalry - who could ever live up to such things?
It is hard to know what to make of Dickens' relationship with Nelly Ternan, not just because there is so little real evidence and so much conjecture involved. It all smacks very much of the typical midlife crisis - a middle-aged man tiring of his middle-aged wife and family, lusting after a woman young enough to be his daughter. Indeed, there was something immensely Freudian about the relationship, on both sides. I had very little sympathy with Dickens in reading this, and an immense amount of sympathy for Nelly. It is hard to see what other options Nelly had in life, with her situtation, family and background; and Dickens' treatment of his wife and the sheer mental contortions and complexities of his double life do not leave him emerging from this story with much dignity or honour.
This is good stuff from my favourite biographer. Impressive to find out so much about someone so hidden from view, Tomalin's research is fab. Lord I wish people hadn't burnt their letters though, so frustrating.
Fascinating insight into Dickens' private life through the life and times of his 'is she/isn't she/oh come on I think she is' mistress, Ellen Ternan.
Another acting family, so adding to recent reads about Ellen Terry and Mrs Jordan. Ternan managed to convincingly shed ten years from her age and live a second, intensely respectable life. Would be so amazing to know what she really thought about it all but too late by a long way.
Fascinating insight into Dickens' private life through the life and times of his 'is she/isn't she/oh come on I think she is' mistress, Ellen Ternan.
Another acting family, so adding to recent reads about Ellen Terry and Mrs Jordan. Ternan managed to convincingly shed ten years from her age and live a second, intensely respectable life. Would be so amazing to know what she really thought about it all but too late by a long way.
Quite an interesting read about a woman who has been largely written out of Dicken's life. A woman who may or may not have been his mistress but with the secrecy surrounding her and her relationship with Dicken, and from the belief of many of the people around her (including at least one of Dicken's children) was.
This is an interesting account of her life and the way she was written out of the story. You can see the frustration of the author as she tries to link some details together but fail because of the lack of evidence, evidence that was burnt or destroyed.
Nelly Ternan was an actress, from a family of actresses and lived on the fringes of society. When she and Dickens met (and there is evidence that they did act together, in playbills etc) her life changed, along with the life of her family. The jury is still out whether it was all a good or bad thing.
This is an interesting account of her life and the way she was written out of the story. You can see the frustration of the author as she tries to link some details together but fail because of the lack of evidence, evidence that was burnt or destroyed.
Nelly Ternan was an actress, from a family of actresses and lived on the fringes of society. When she and Dickens met (and there is evidence that they did act together, in playbills etc) her life changed, along with the life of her family. The jury is still out whether it was all a good or bad thing.