I was fortunate to have a mother who loved to read. We went to the library frequently. I loved it except for the librarians. I was scared to death of the librarians. I enjoyed your comparison of Dickens's opening paragraphs.
I agree that the opening of Oliver Twist is not Dickens' most fluent opening. But now I look at it again, I sense a strong echo of the opening of Don Quixote: "En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor..."(" In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.") The Spanish has a wonderful, rocking rhythm that perhaps is hard to capture in English. I've no idea if Dickens had read Cervantes, but if Don Quixote was an unconscious influence on the opening, Dickens failed to recreate the music of the Spanish classic.
Thanks for this, Jeffrey. That is really interesting. I have never read Don Quixote myself, apart from an excerpot in Borges' Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote. Dickens' opening of Oliver Twist certainly sounds like he may have been influenced by Don Quixote. I had no idea of any of this. Thanks, and thanks for the Spanish too!
Dickens is hard to read, if you are used to reading modern works. Even after reading (a lot) of Hardy, it is difficult. I had to read in 1 week Little Dorrit, in my first week of term at Sussex; this was only a subsidiary course; my main subject was Sociology. Naturally I didn't read it, then found out you couldn't escape or bluff your way out of work at sussex (3 was a large group tutorial- it was a long time ago). I recently decided to spend my enforced confinement to my house by getting Little Dorrit from the Library. Didn't finish it, again, but he was a great writer. Even after my non finishing and renewals from the library, some of the descriptions of people still are with me.
The paragraphs you quote are some of the best of openings and the worst of openings of Dickens novels. I have picked them up recently and read him and realized, my gosh, he could be a bit wordy at times. But I do love his novels, those that I have read. They are great stories and he makes some really good points about human behavior.
"he could be a bit wordy at times": you are a master of understatement. I agree with you about his observations about human behaviour. I suppose all great fiction outlasts its author because of that.
I think thats true about great fiction outlasting the author due to insightful observations of human behavior. The characters step off the page and become your friends (or enemies), at least in these 19th century novels with all the extra words, someone you knew in a past life.
This resonates. Dense Dickens. That first paragraph of Oliver Twist does seem like it was written for children. I downloaded Bleak House. It was free. That’s my next tackle.
"That first paragraph of Oliver Twist does seem like it was written for children." I assume this was one of your more tongue-in-cheek comments! 😂I started Bleak House a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I must finish it.
For me Dickens has always been half and half. Half great stories worth the effort and half work to get through all the descriptions. Overall unquestionably worth the effort but a good author to read before bed in an insomnia period. The exception for me is David Copperfield. I have read it many times and always enjoy it. I read Oliver Twist as a child but only after seeing the musical and getting a crush on the actor who played Oliver. ( such a sweet voice) It was an act of devotion.
“ a good author to read before bed in an insomnia period”: LOL. I remember that musical. I saw bits on TV. I couldn’t stand the person who played Oliver Twist, and I certainly didn’t have a crush on him! I love the bits of David Copperfield that I’ve read. Agree with your half and half comment, from what little I’ve read.
I too was put off by Oliver Twist as a boy and avoided Dickens until the age of thirteen or so, when David Copperfield was placed in my hands. I loved it, but still managed to avoid most Dickens for much too long. As an adult, the marvelous television series ‘Dickensian’ aroused my curiosity. How could it not? Anton Lesser as Fagin, Steven Rea as Inspector Bucket, Ned Dennehy as Scrooge, and more! Makes me want to read!
By the way, I love the name Richmal Crompton! Wish I could steal it for a nom de plume.
I missed that series I’m afraid. I’ve just looked it up and it sounds like an interesting concept. Anton Lessor: a brilliant actor. He was in a Shakespearian production called The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses. Absolutely brilliant.
Richmal Crompton: I don’t see why not; she died over 50 years ago! Not that think it’s a good idea.
'Fog up the river. Fog down the river.' That's the only line from Bleak House I can recall!
It's a long time since I took A-Level English, BUT, oh boy, some of the descriptions were amazing, and the old feller was an excellent storyteller, although he took more than his fair share of words to get his those stories across.
The BBC adaptations I've seen in the past 25 years of some of his books have been awesome. Shows that we don't have to rely solely on books-and-paper format to enjoy the written word.
I am afraid I’ve never watched any of the BBC adaptations. For a start, I don’t like costume dramas, because I never find them convincing, and secondly I don’t like the BBC. If it wasn’t for those two things I would find the prospect quite appealing!
I am not sure I entirely agree abut not relying solely on books — or, rather, perhas the key word there is “solely”. If they make people want to read the original then I suppose they’re good. Like the Classics Illustrated comics — graphic novels really — that introduced me to some of the literary greats.
Dickens has taught me a great deal about writing reading him. On creating characters as purely dramatic or comic creations; evoking a time and a place with his London; being thoughtful and respectful regarding children; making satirical points without beating them to death; the joyful onomatopoeia of his character names! His novels and travelogues aren't just books- they are experiences...
Thanks, David. I’ve hardly read anything of Dickens, let alone his travelogues. But I bought a Kindle book recently that has his complete works, so I shal;l look forward to delving in. I agree about his comic creations. My two favourites are Mr Gradgrind the teacher — a clear example of nominative determinism — and Mr Micawber, who was always waiting for something to turn up!
Apologies for any typos which appeared in the emailed version of this. I wrote it by hand and then converted it to text. Unfortunately, I missed one or two errors.
I was fortunate to have a mother who loved to read. We went to the library frequently. I loved it except for the librarians. I was scared to death of the librarians. I enjoyed your comparison of Dickens's opening paragraphs.
You were very fortunate. My mother was the same, and very encouraging. The librarians tended to be of a type: austere! Thanks re comparisons!
I agree that the opening of Oliver Twist is not Dickens' most fluent opening. But now I look at it again, I sense a strong echo of the opening of Don Quixote: "En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor..."(" In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.") The Spanish has a wonderful, rocking rhythm that perhaps is hard to capture in English. I've no idea if Dickens had read Cervantes, but if Don Quixote was an unconscious influence on the opening, Dickens failed to recreate the music of the Spanish classic.
Thanks for this, Jeffrey. That is really interesting. I have never read Don Quixote myself, apart from an excerpot in Borges' Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote. Dickens' opening of Oliver Twist certainly sounds like he may have been influenced by Don Quixote. I had no idea of any of this. Thanks, and thanks for the Spanish too!
Dickens is hard to read, if you are used to reading modern works. Even after reading (a lot) of Hardy, it is difficult. I had to read in 1 week Little Dorrit, in my first week of term at Sussex; this was only a subsidiary course; my main subject was Sociology. Naturally I didn't read it, then found out you couldn't escape or bluff your way out of work at sussex (3 was a large group tutorial- it was a long time ago). I recently decided to spend my enforced confinement to my house by getting Little Dorrit from the Library. Didn't finish it, again, but he was a great writer. Even after my non finishing and renewals from the library, some of the descriptions of people still are with me.
Shame about the non-feasibility of bluffing! Yes, people descriptions: Dickesn was a keen observer of people I think.
"I don’t know about you, but I think that’s horrible."
Haha! Ten year old me would have closed the book right there too.
I am pleased that I am not alone, Jim! Cheers.
The paragraphs you quote are some of the best of openings and the worst of openings of Dickens novels. I have picked them up recently and read him and realized, my gosh, he could be a bit wordy at times. But I do love his novels, those that I have read. They are great stories and he makes some really good points about human behavior.
"he could be a bit wordy at times": you are a master of understatement. I agree with you about his observations about human behaviour. I suppose all great fiction outlasts its author because of that.
I think thats true about great fiction outlasting the author due to insightful observations of human behavior. The characters step off the page and become your friends (or enemies), at least in these 19th century novels with all the extra words, someone you knew in a past life.
you're right, of course. When I see a Shakespere play I am always struck by how human nature doesn't seem to change
I can definitely understand why ‘Oliver Twist’ remains unread. What an awful start!!!
LOL. He must have been haviong an "off" day!
This resonates. Dense Dickens. That first paragraph of Oliver Twist does seem like it was written for children. I downloaded Bleak House. It was free. That’s my next tackle.
"That first paragraph of Oliver Twist does seem like it was written for children." I assume this was one of your more tongue-in-cheek comments! 😂I started Bleak House a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I must finish it.
For me Dickens has always been half and half. Half great stories worth the effort and half work to get through all the descriptions. Overall unquestionably worth the effort but a good author to read before bed in an insomnia period. The exception for me is David Copperfield. I have read it many times and always enjoy it. I read Oliver Twist as a child but only after seeing the musical and getting a crush on the actor who played Oliver. ( such a sweet voice) It was an act of devotion.
“ a good author to read before bed in an insomnia period”: LOL. I remember that musical. I saw bits on TV. I couldn’t stand the person who played Oliver Twist, and I certainly didn’t have a crush on him! I love the bits of David Copperfield that I’ve read. Agree with your half and half comment, from what little I’ve read.
I too was put off by Oliver Twist as a boy and avoided Dickens until the age of thirteen or so, when David Copperfield was placed in my hands. I loved it, but still managed to avoid most Dickens for much too long. As an adult, the marvelous television series ‘Dickensian’ aroused my curiosity. How could it not? Anton Lesser as Fagin, Steven Rea as Inspector Bucket, Ned Dennehy as Scrooge, and more! Makes me want to read!
By the way, I love the name Richmal Crompton! Wish I could steal it for a nom de plume.
I missed that series I’m afraid. I’ve just looked it up and it sounds like an interesting concept. Anton Lessor: a brilliant actor. He was in a Shakespearian production called The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses. Absolutely brilliant.
Richmal Crompton: I don’t see why not; she died over 50 years ago! Not that think it’s a good idea.
'Fog up the river. Fog down the river.' That's the only line from Bleak House I can recall!
It's a long time since I took A-Level English, BUT, oh boy, some of the descriptions were amazing, and the old feller was an excellent storyteller, although he took more than his fair share of words to get his those stories across.
The BBC adaptations I've seen in the past 25 years of some of his books have been awesome. Shows that we don't have to rely solely on books-and-paper format to enjoy the written word.
I am afraid I’ve never watched any of the BBC adaptations. For a start, I don’t like costume dramas, because I never find them convincing, and secondly I don’t like the BBC. If it wasn’t for those two things I would find the prospect quite appealing!
I am not sure I entirely agree abut not relying solely on books — or, rather, perhas the key word there is “solely”. If they make people want to read the original then I suppose they’re good. Like the Classics Illustrated comics — graphic novels really — that introduced me to some of the literary greats.
I never read Oliver Twist. Agree the beginning is arduous and off-putting.
“Arduos”: a very apposite word — it’s a real struggle to get through it, and it’s only the first sentence!
Dickens has taught me a great deal about writing reading him. On creating characters as purely dramatic or comic creations; evoking a time and a place with his London; being thoughtful and respectful regarding children; making satirical points without beating them to death; the joyful onomatopoeia of his character names! His novels and travelogues aren't just books- they are experiences...
Thanks, David. I’ve hardly read anything of Dickens, let alone his travelogues. But I bought a Kindle book recently that has his complete works, so I shal;l look forward to delving in. I agree about his comic creations. My two favourites are Mr Gradgrind the teacher — a clear example of nominative determinism — and Mr Micawber, who was always waiting for something to turn up!
'Krook', 'Bucket', 'Dedlock', 'Tulkinghorn', 'Jellyby', 'Guppy' - ahhhhh, such wonderful names!
LOL
Oh, and 'Jaggers'!!! A friend's dog is called Jaggers, after the Great Expectations character.
A great name, I agree.
Apologies for any typos which appeared in the emailed version of this. I wrote it by hand and then converted it to text. Unfortunately, I missed one or two errors.