Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥

Dominic is joined by the fantastic historian Adam Zamoyski who shares his insight into the origins of both Revolutionary thought and action in the last quarter of the 18th Century: what Dickens famously calls 'The Period' in his A Tale of Two Cities ...Adam's celebrated titles on the Age of Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars include: Holy Madness, 1812. Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow, Rites of Peace and Napoleon: The Man Behind The Myth ... This episode also contains both French Revolutionary and British Reactionary quotes and slogans read by the brilliant actress Léna RobinYou can watch wherever you are in the world! Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Dominic is Joined by the brilliant Dr. Claire Wood, who is a lecturer in Victorian Literature at the University of Leicester and a former research associate at the University of York. Claire’s writing on Dickens includes: Dickens and the Business of Death, published by Cambridge University Press. Claire is also a founder of the Dickens Code which seeks to crack the mysteries of Dickens’ unique form of shorthand - a project that has just been nominated for a Times Education Award ..Also joining us to read extracts from The Old Curiosity Shop  the excellent actor, Gunnar Cauthery. Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

It's summer ... the perfect time to talk about Dickens' travels abroad. Dominic is joined again by the brilliant Lucinda Hawskley who returns to talk about her new book Dickens and Travel ... A perfect addition to your holiday reading!Mentioned also in the episode are two portraits which you can view here:Daniel Maclise's "Charles Dickens" ('Nickleby Portrait) 1839Francis Alexander's "Charles Dickens" 1842Plus Harry Styles' latest album Harry's House !To book for Dominic's GHOSTS AND MURDER live stream on Monday 31st October - which includes readings of Sikes & Nancy, The Dead Hand,The Signalman  plus a live Q&A with Dr. Claire Wood - click here: https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/ghosts-murderYou can watch wherever you are in the world!Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Stephen Fry who takes the listener on an intricate journey through the fog and mystery of Dickens' thrilling masterpiece: Bleak HouseReading extracts from Esther's narrative also is the brilliant Sally ScottAnd here is a link to Miriam Margolyes' unabridged audiobook of Bleak House mentioned in the episodeIf you'd like to make a small donation to support the running of this series please click hereSupport the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of Great Expectations ... Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe series, discusses the Battle of Waterloo and its significance. Topics include Napoleon Bonaparte's military career, troop positions and tactics, weaponry in the Waterloo era, and the historical accuracy of the Sharp novels.

Dominic is joined by  Marzia Dati: Professor of English Literature at  Liceo Marconi High School and founder of the first Italian Branch of the International Dickens Fellowship, in her home town of Carrara.  Marzia’s new book A Sentimental Journey through Carrara is a visitor’s guide to this remarkable town that sits at the foot of the Apuan Alps, as they slope their way down to the Sea …  These marble mountains gave Michelangelo the stone from which he cut the figure of his famous David, and today, if you stand in the lobby of the One World Trade Centre in New York, you will see that its walls are also decorated with Carrara’s unique marble … Dickens visited Carrara in January 1845 and Marzia shares what he, and other famous writers and artists, found there. Grazie per l'attenzione!Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Dominic is joined by Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife for a special episode on Grip. Chris looks after the world famous ravens at the Tower of London, and tells hilarious anecdotes about his Ravens and how ingenious Dickens' descriptions of these rare and wonderful creatures are in Barnaby Rudge ...This episode also includes special readings from curator of Jane Austen's House Sophie Reynolds.HAPPY EASTER!Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Dominic is joined by Professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst to discuss his extraordinary biography of Dickens The Turning Point: A Year That Changed Dickens and the World ...The year is 1851 and London's Hyde Park is centre stage with the opening of The Great Exhibition. It is also the year that Dickens sits down to write his masterpiece: Bleak House ...Thank you for listening! To support this series please follow the link belowSupport the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

Dominic is joined by the brilliant  John Bowen:  Professor of 19th Century Literature at the University of York. He is the author of Other Dickens: Pickwick to Chuzzlewit a book which focuses on Dickens’ early novels. John’s work has brought him in to close collaboration with many of the UK’s leading cultural organisations: such as the BBC, British Library, and the V&A. He was also was an academic advisor to David Edgar’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol for the RSC.In this episode they discuss Dickens' first historical novel set against the backdrop of the Gordon Riots of 1780. The 'forgotten' masterpiece that is Barnaby Rudge ...Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!