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Dickens

Jul 12, 2001

In this engaging discussion, guests Rosemary Ashton, a literary scholar, Michael Slater, a Victorian literature expert, and John Bowen, an author on Dickens, delve into the multifaceted world of Charles Dickens. Ashton paints a vivid picture of mid-19th-century London, while Slater highlights Dickens's empathy for the urban poor. Bowen emphasizes how novels like Bleak House critique social injustices. They explore Dickens's complex portrayal of women, his childhood influences, and debate the lasting impact of his social critiques on modern society.

28:19

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INSIGHT

Victorian London’s Stark Contrasts

Mid-19th century London was a study in extremes: global wealth and crushing urban poverty coexisted side by side.
Rapid industrial growth produced spectacle and slums, creating deep social anxieties that shaped Dickens' imagination.

insights

INSIGHT

Intellectual Currents Shaping Dickens

Utilitarian reformers and Carlylian romantic radicals shaped the era's intellectual climate.
Dickens absorbed both currents, blending social reform aims with imaginative critique.

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INSIGHT

Institutions As Metaphors For Social Decay

Bleak House and Little Dorrit turn institutional abuses into metaphors for societal failure.
Dickens links individual lives through systems like Chancery or the Circumlocution Office to expose wide-ranging incompetence.

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Setting Victorian London’s Scene

01:50 • 1min

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Intellectual Climate: Radicalism and Carlyle

02:56 • 4min

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Which Novels Reveal England’s Condition

07:14 • 22sec

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Bleak House and Chancery as Metaphor

07:36 • 2min

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Little Dorrit’s Prisons and Bureaucracy

10:01 • 24sec

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Dickens’s Tone: Anger and Optimism

10:25 • 1min

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Depicting Urban Poor in Little Dorrit

11:29 • 3min

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Dickens’s Childhood and Its Influence

14:27 • 3min

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Dickens’s Ideas: Injustice and Reform

17:35 • 3min

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Effectiveness of Dickens’s Social Critique

20:14 • 5min

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Moral Appeal to Readers and Practical Impact

25:00 • 1min

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Portrayal of Women: Types and Limits

Other Dickens: Pickwick to Chuzzlewit

John Bowen

John Bowen's 'Other Dickens: Pickwick to Chuzzlewit' offers a fresh and theoretically engaged perspective on the novels Charles Dickens wrote in the first half of his career. The book challenges conventional views and provides original readings of works ranging from 'The Pickwick Papers' to 'Martin Chuzzlewit'. Bowen explores themes of masculinity, maturity, and the social order, highlighting the literary and cultural significance of these early novels. His analysis is both appreciative and critical, making the book a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in Dickens's development as a writer.

London labour and the London poor

Henry Mayhew

#8782

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Charles Dickens

Originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839, 'Nicholas Nickleby' is Charles Dickens' third novel. The story follows Nicholas Nickleby, who, after his father's death, must support his mother and sister. He faces numerous challenges, including a cruel uncle, Ralph Nickleby, and a brutal schoolmaster, Wackford Squeers, at the notorious Dotheboys Hall. The novel is a critique of the social ills of Victorian England, particularly the mistreatment of children and the cruelty of the educational system. It features a cast of vivid characters and explores themes of family, morality, and the struggle against injustice.

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• Mentioned in 32 episodes

David Copperfield

Paul Lorain

Charles Dickens

A classic novel by Charles Dickens, following the life of David Copperfield from childhood to adulthood.

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• Mentioned in 36 episodes

Oliver Twist

The 1838 Theatrical Adaptation

George Almar

This adaptation was first performed in the fall of 1838, before the full text of Dickens' original novel had been released. It is a serio-comic burletta that deviates from the original novel, and Dickens himself was reportedly horrified by the performance. The adaptation highlights the theatrical interpretation of Dickens' work during the Victorian era.

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• Mentioned in 87 episodes

A Christmas carol

Jacqueline Goldfinger

Jacqueline Goldfinger's adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' is a family-friendly version that includes music, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences. This play retains the core themes and characters of the original while adding a musical element to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact.

#6042

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Dombey and Son, a novel by Charles Dickens, explores themes of family, ambition, and the complexities of human relationships. The story centers around the wealthy businessman, Mr. Dombey, and his obsession with his son, Paul. Dickens critiques the materialistic values of Victorian society and the destructive nature of unchecked ambition. The novel features a cast of memorable characters, each grappling with their own personal struggles. Dombey and Son is a complex and multifaceted work, showcasing Dickens' skill in creating memorable characters and weaving together multiple storylines.

#814

• Mentioned in 35 episodes

Bleak House

Charles Dickens

Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique. The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past. The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.

#6067

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Mary Sebag-Montefiore

Adam EVE

The novel follows the story of Amy Dorrit, known as Little Dorrit, who is born and raised in the Marshalsea debtors' prison in London. Her father, William Dorrit, is imprisoned for debt and becomes known as the 'Father of the Marshalsea'. The story explores themes of poverty, societal injustice, and the constraints of the prison system. It also delves into the lives of other characters, including Arthur Clennam, who becomes involved in the Dorrit family's affairs. The novel satirizes the British class system and the inefficiencies of the government, particularly through the fictional 'Circumlocution Office'. As the Dorrits' fortune changes dramatically, the novel examines the impact of wealth and social status on individuals and society.

#232

• Mentioned in 85 episodes

Das Kapital

Karl Marx

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the achievements of the 19th-century literary giant Charles Dickens.

George Bernard Shaw said of Little Dorrit that it was 'more seditious than Das Kapital'. We can all think of classic Dickens: the gin palaces, grimy narrow lanes, shoeshine boys sitting in the gutters and the terrible city smog. Silas Wake with his peg leg, young Oliver asking for more. But were these figures fictional agents for the radical change that Bernard Shaw suggests? Or was Dickens a great caricaturist but really a conservative at heart? What kind of person was the man Charles Dickens? And what is his political and literary legacy to our age?

With Rosemary Ashton, professor of English at University College London; Michael Slater, professor of Victorian Literature at Birkbeck College, University of London and editor of The Dent Uniform Edition of Dickens’ Journalism; and John Bowen, senior lecturer in English at the University of Keele.

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