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agmaynard's review
informative
fast-paced
4.0
Well laid out and meticulously researched and footnoted examination of Charles Dickens, his life, and his lies. Because I dislike what I know about Dickens (and his writing) this was delightful, and will provide facts for future discussion and perhaps even study. Recommended! Especially interesting as a Victorian example of image-shaping of a famous person who provided distracting information to hide likely secrets.
angorarabbit's review
4.0
TW: Dickens, narcissistic abuse.
Disclosure: I read [b:The Pickwick Papers|229432|The Pickwick Papers|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360795072l/229432._SY75_.jpg|3315230] in the summer between 6th and 7th years and enjoyed it. [b:Great Expectations|2623|Great Expectations|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631687432l/2623._SY75_.jpg|2612809] was required reading in 7th year, I did not enjoy it. In 11th year [b:A Tale of Two Cities / Great Expectations|9748274|A Tale of Two Cities / Great Expectations|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436724821l/9748274._SY75_.jpg|14637456] was required reading, I hated it. At some time I read [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440], it is still a favourite of mine. Besides what I learned in 7th and 11th year I have read one other biography:[b:Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens|15795049|Great Expectations The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens|Robert Gottlieb|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408470369l/15795049._SX50_.jpg|21517203]. I am not a Lit major.
The book was well written and accessible to a popular audience. There are footnotes, biography, and an index to aid a reader who wishes to do their own research. Is there a chance that Ms Kelly may have cherry picked the letters and newspaper articles. Of course. Could she have made some unsubstantiated accusations? Yes, she is human.
I do think she makes a good case for reexamining how we teach British Lit in pre-secondary education. In many ways I found the ongoing allegations of plagiarism more problematic than Charles' behaviour as far as teaching the novels. Dickens was the only British writer that I was required to read more than one novel. The only other English novels that were required reading were [b:Silas Marner|54539|Silas Marner|George Eliot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347323528l/54539._SY75_.jpg|3049535] and [b:Animal Farm|170448|Animal Farm|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1325861570l/170448._SY75_.jpg|2207778]. Which is arguably a biased view of Victorian England, and gives little insight to modern Britain, much less Britain or the United Kingdom.
The author also makes a good case that Dickens was preoccupied with his image both before and after his death. He seems to have actively stroven to have the press hear his side of the story and quash others. I don't believe the Ms Kelly used the word narcissist, but in her book Charles Dickens is almost a classic case. Many authors, of course, are narcissists, as are many people. That in itself should not prejudice a reader. An author who is constantly shopping an image should give a reader pause when reading the author's works. How do I understand [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440] in light of what I have read regarding his treatment of his wife and children?
Which again is the question, can a problematic person create a great work of art? How does the viewer understand that art?
I would like to hear the unwhitewashed story from Catherine Thomson Dickens nee Hogarth, Ellen Ternan, and Georgina Hogarth. It is a pity that so many letters were destroyed.
Of course, I will always read a Trollope novel over a Dickens any day. So I to am biased.
Disclosure: I read [b:The Pickwick Papers|229432|The Pickwick Papers|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360795072l/229432._SY75_.jpg|3315230] in the summer between 6th and 7th years and enjoyed it. [b:Great Expectations|2623|Great Expectations|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631687432l/2623._SY75_.jpg|2612809] was required reading in 7th year, I did not enjoy it. In 11th year [b:A Tale of Two Cities / Great Expectations|9748274|A Tale of Two Cities / Great Expectations|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436724821l/9748274._SY75_.jpg|14637456] was required reading, I hated it. At some time I read [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440], it is still a favourite of mine. Besides what I learned in 7th and 11th year I have read one other biography:[b:Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens|15795049|Great Expectations The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens|Robert Gottlieb|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408470369l/15795049._SX50_.jpg|21517203]. I am not a Lit major.
The book was well written and accessible to a popular audience. There are footnotes, biography, and an index to aid a reader who wishes to do their own research. Is there a chance that Ms Kelly may have cherry picked the letters and newspaper articles. Of course. Could she have made some unsubstantiated accusations? Yes, she is human.
I do think she makes a good case for reexamining how we teach British Lit in pre-secondary education. In many ways I found the ongoing allegations of plagiarism more problematic than Charles' behaviour as far as teaching the novels. Dickens was the only British writer that I was required to read more than one novel. The only other English novels that were required reading were [b:Silas Marner|54539|Silas Marner|George Eliot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347323528l/54539._SY75_.jpg|3049535] and [b:Animal Farm|170448|Animal Farm|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1325861570l/170448._SY75_.jpg|2207778]. Which is arguably a biased view of Victorian England, and gives little insight to modern Britain, much less Britain or the United Kingdom.
The author also makes a good case that Dickens was preoccupied with his image both before and after his death. He seems to have actively stroven to have the press hear his side of the story and quash others. I don't believe the Ms Kelly used the word narcissist, but in her book Charles Dickens is almost a classic case. Many authors, of course, are narcissists, as are many people. That in itself should not prejudice a reader. An author who is constantly shopping an image should give a reader pause when reading the author's works. How do I understand [b:A Christmas Carol|5326|A Christmas Carol|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406512317l/5326._SY75_.jpg|3097440] in light of what I have read regarding his treatment of his wife and children?
Which again is the question, can a problematic person create a great work of art? How does the viewer understand that art?
I would like to hear the unwhitewashed story from Catherine Thomson Dickens nee Hogarth, Ellen Ternan, and Georgina Hogarth. It is a pity that so many letters were destroyed.
Of course, I will always read a Trollope novel over a Dickens any day. So I to am biased.
purplemuskogee's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Very enjoyable read, a lot of it based on theories and archives rather than hard facts necessarily, but I found it overall interesting and it does raise good questions and good points. I am not particularly familiar with Dickens' biography myself and only know what most people know, so it is difficult to comment on how much this book brings in terms of new ideas, but it was pleasantly written, seems well-researched and does ask many questions.
I received a free copy of this book viq Netgalley.
I received a free copy of this book viq Netgalley.
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