HistoryExtra podcast The lost world of Dickens’ London
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Aug 24, 2023 Lee Jackson, author of Dickensland, guides Ellie Cawthorne through atmospheric sites associated with Charles Dickens in Victorian London. They explore the connection between Dickens' writings and real-life locations, discussing his detailed descriptions, the blend of old and new on London Bridge, and his depiction of the city's slums and dens of thieves. They also touch on Dickens' views on tourism and a recent adaptation of Great Expectations.
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Dickens As Visual Reporter
- Dickens acted as a visual reporter of London, describing panoramas and tiny details alike.
- His intense visual writing made Victorian London feel cinematic and enduring.
London On The Cusp Of Modernity
- Dickens captured London at a turning point between old and modern infrastructure and society.
- That tension between disappearing past and incoming modernity fuels his appeal today.
Tourism Boomed After His Death
- Dickens' posthumous touristic fame grew more than his lifetime tourist appeal.
- Late Victorians turned back alleys and ordinary pubs into new forms of heritage tied to Dickens.