As tomorrow is the feast day of the nativity of Charles Dickens, I would like to say something about the old boy, as it was he who inspired me to write out my thoughts and hopefully entertain folks in a serial manner.* His works go in and out of fashion and presently he is in the doghouse (or should that be the poorhouse?) not so much due to his works, but his character. Even the most diehard fans of Charlie-boy have to admit he was a louse. He was mean to his wife and contemptuous of his children – not at all the family man portrayed in his books. He is an example of The Bad Artist viz. someone who isn’t a nice person but somehow creates compassionate and incredible art, like Caravaggio or Wagner (very nasty).

I am presently rereading ‘David Copperfield’ via the podcast ‘Story time for grown ups’. Ms. Moore is doing a fine job with it, not only in her rendition of the many characters but with synopsis and analysis of what’s happening. We are at the beginning when the protagonist is a boy, suffering by his stepfather Mr. Murdstone and the man’s odious sister Miss Murdstone, two of the most awful people in literature. These chapters are painful to read; what they do to young Davey is cruel and child abuse. Some of the listeners have taken umbrage to the choice of book: why are we reading this dreadful tale? Ms. Moore points out Mr. Dickens craft as a writer is getting the reader to care about a fictional character and be upset at what is happening to him. By listening to the book this time, I am getting a lot more out of it when I read it the first time. I read it while on holiday in Key West. Mr. Dickens had a hard time keeping my attention given the circumstances, which was sipping cocktails surrounded by fine fellows well over four feet. At least I didn’t look to vacuous lying there, holding a thick tome in my lap.

What I ought to reread is “The old curiosity shop’. Some say it is not ‘essential Dickens’ but I say it is. CD put into the book his most grotesque character, Daniel Quilp, who is his Shadow self. Spoilers ahead! Mr. Quilp’s ugly end is contrasted with the death of Little Nell, one of Dicken’s ‘good women’, whose death made the public weep. Mr. Dickens is good at getting the reader to care, care about the characters and the social ills that befall them. It was this was or write non-fiction critical essays that no one would have bothered reading. Alas, Babylon! Few people are willing to read Dickens these days, other than ‘A Christmas Carol’. People find him difficult to read (true) and ‘caring for the poor’ isn’t that important anymore apparently. If he is taught in school at all, it is ‘The tale of two cities’ which is a good read but not his best.

Character aside, Charles was a compassionate writer and I am grateful for what he wrote; he has given me many a good read, some of them I reread every decade to see if I feel any different this time. I am grateful his ghost poked me in the ribs to write myself. My debut happened on 8 February, the day after his birthday. Sometimes I confuse which day I am commemorating.

*His pen name was BOZ; mine is SPO.