Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens...

Yesterday was The Queen's Jubilee, today is Charles Dickens' birthday. What a whirl of activity!

Friends, you know how very much I enjoy a little Dickens, such as A Christmas Carol, or even a big one, such as Oliver Twist or David Copperfield. Recently I re-read A Tale of Two Cities and I must confess enjoyed it much more than I did the first time through (when I was in 10th grade).

We appreciate Dickens because he loves all of his characters so completely - even the most irredeemable ones.

In honor of one of the most creative and beloved novelists of all time, why not break out your Nook or Kindle, or even go all old fashioned on us, and break out a ... (!) ... BOOK ... (you know, with pages you can turn yourself!) and read something by the author whose birth was on this date in 1812. Yes, the year of that War during which the British burnt the White House.

I am thinking that Martin Chuzzlewit is the way to go. After all it is somewhat notable for its "American" section, which is still a tad controversial down to this very day. Or at the very least rent a few of the classic 1930s movies of Dickens' timeless tales. There is nothing quite like Edna May Oliver as David Copperfield's Aunt Betsey Trotwood...

Oh! Did I mention it is a BIG birthday for C. D.? Let's see. 1812...1912...2012! 200 years. Dickens' Bicentennial! Hmm... That is worth two telegrams from The Queen, don't you think?

No comments: