How refreshing to be returned to literature in these times.
Thank you for providing some relief.
Mike Ferro
3 years ago
Here’s an extra little snippet that could be added to the locations where the London of Dicken’s time still exists. Somewhere in the novels the writer refers to the presence of a weekend trader whose various lines of agricultural produce are so heavily piled up against the doors of the Hibernia Chambers that it would seem impossible for them all to be removed in time for access to be available for business on Monday morning. I don’t quote exactly and can’t give the reference but that is the gist. Hibernia Chambers is still there, facing Tooley Street, though now renamed No 2 London Bridge, and the doors, opening on to London Bridge, are also still there.
Malcolm Knott
3 years ago
The architecture and ambience of the Marshalsea is captured perfectly in Little Dorrit (1987) with Alec Guinness and Derek Jacobi.
Tom Travers
3 years ago
Mayor Khan will see to it that these hateful areas of Englishness are eradicated.
I hate the notion of banning or burning books. The only exception is Dickens. Such sentimental, sanctimonious twaddle. Being forced to read one of his turgid, tawdry novels in school almost put me off literature for life.
Same here, Dickens at school was a totally turn off for me, but I gave him another chance in middle age by listening to his novels on the Audible app… Then I understood why he has endured as a writer. But better to listen to than to read, I think.
Books from a different time. I find that getting kids to not only read fiction from even 50 years ago but also fully comprehend what they’re reading is akin to trying to get a kid to watch a TV series or movie from another era.
Everything from the langauage to the pacing is completely different. One would say that if you got your great-grandchildren to not only read the Harry Potter books of today but also the films they would find Rowling as difficult to read as we find Dickens or Stevenson today.
How refreshing to be returned to literature in these times.
Thank you for providing some relief.
Here’s an extra little snippet that could be added to the locations where the London of Dicken’s time still exists.
Somewhere in the novels the writer refers to the presence of a weekend trader whose various lines of agricultural produce are so heavily piled up against the doors of the Hibernia Chambers that it would seem impossible for them all to be removed in time for access to be available for business on Monday morning.
I don’t quote exactly and can’t give the reference but that is the gist.
Hibernia Chambers is still there, facing Tooley Street, though now renamed No 2 London Bridge, and the doors, opening on to London Bridge, are also still there.
The architecture and ambience of the Marshalsea is captured perfectly in Little Dorrit (1987) with Alec Guinness and Derek Jacobi.
Mayor Khan will see to it that these hateful areas of Englishness are eradicated.
As will the councillors of Kent, it now seems.
I hate the notion of banning or burning books. The only exception is Dickens. Such sentimental, sanctimonious twaddle. Being forced to read one of his turgid, tawdry novels in school almost put me off literature for life.
Same here, Dickens at school was a totally turn off for me, but I gave him another chance in middle age by listening to his novels on the Audible app… Then I understood why he has endured as a writer. But better to listen to than to read, I think.
Books from a different time. I find that getting kids to not only read fiction from even 50 years ago but also fully comprehend what they’re reading is akin to trying to get a kid to watch a TV series or movie from another era.
Everything from the langauage to the pacing is completely different. One would say that if you got your great-grandchildren to not only read the Harry Potter books of today but also the films they would find Rowling as difficult to read as we find Dickens or Stevenson today.