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Dickens and the Workhouse : Oliver Twist and the London Poor
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Review
Richardson's enthusiasm for her subject shines throughout this hugely engaging and informative book (BBC History Magazine )
The important discoveries in this surprising book come from an intimate knowledge of Dickens and London, coupled with a historian's passion. We're seized by the hand of a detective and walked into Dickens's world. Unputdownable. (Miriam Margolyes )
The important discoveries in this surprising book come from an intimate knowledge of Dickens and London, coupled with a historian's passion. We're seized by the hand of a detective and walked into Dickens's world. Unputdownable. (Miriam Margolyes )
Product Description
The recent discovery that as a young man Charles Dickens lived only a few doors from a major London workhouse made headlines worldwide, and the campaign to save the workhouse from demolition caught the public imagination. Internationally, the media immediately grasped the idea that Oliver Twist's workhouse had been found, and made public the news that both the workhouse and Dickens's old home were still standing, near London's Telecom Tower. This book, by the historian who did the sleuthing behind these exciting new findings, presents the story for the first time, and shows that the two periods Dickens lived in that part of London - before and after his father's imprisonment in a debtors' prison - were profoundly important to his subsequent writing career.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This well-researched book shows how many of Charles Dickens's well-known literary characters had their origins in real life. For example, a William Sykes(Bill Sykes) who sold lamp fuel, and tradesmen Goodge and Marney(Scrooge and Marley) lived close to Dickens's first London home in Norfolk Street(now Cleveland Street), east Marylebone. Also, a workhouse and pawnbroker's in Norfolk Street are likely to have inspired those described in Oliver Twist. Many other examples are given of Dickens's neighbours linked to his fictional characters.
'Dickens & the Workhouse', published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth, deserves to be read by anyone interested in Charles Dickens's life and the sources of inspiration for his writing.
'Dickens & the Workhouse', published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth, deserves to be read by anyone interested in Charles Dickens's life and the sources of inspiration for his writing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a wonderful book!
Dr. Richardson takes us on a fascinating journey of her recent discoveries about a previously overlooked period of Dickens' life and its association with the Cleveland Street Workhouse in London.
Meticulously researched, yet driven forward by some amazing incidences of luck in finding that Dickens lived just a few doors from the Workhouse - both his home and Workhouse still standing to this day.
All discovered just at the time of celebrating Dickens' 200th birthday!
Historians will love the academic rigour and use of a wide range of primary sources. Dickens enthusiasts will be enthused by new insights into the life of the man.
I challenge you not to be amazed and delighted!
Dr. Richardson takes us on a fascinating journey of her recent discoveries about a previously overlooked period of Dickens' life and its association with the Cleveland Street Workhouse in London.
Meticulously researched, yet driven forward by some amazing incidences of luck in finding that Dickens lived just a few doors from the Workhouse - both his home and Workhouse still standing to this day.
All discovered just at the time of celebrating Dickens' 200th birthday!
Historians will love the academic rigour and use of a wide range of primary sources. Dickens enthusiasts will be enthused by new insights into the life of the man.
I challenge you not to be amazed and delighted!
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have mixed feelings about this book.
I think there is too much speculation - "Dickens may well have ......" appears too often for this to be a completely satisfactory book.
The author, in some endnotes, admits that she didn't have time to investigate some areas sufficiently, which reveals the book to be a bit of a Dickens bicentenary cash-in ie slightly rushed.
Quibbles aside, I couldn't put the book down. Richardson has done thorough reseach of the street Dickens lived in and brings London of that period to life.
The London Poor element is the book's real strength. Reading about workhouses and the Poor Law as our government debate welfare reform is chilling. Richardson brings home the horrors of Poor Law provision.
A bibliography and suggested further reading would have been useful.
I think there is too much speculation - "Dickens may well have ......" appears too often for this to be a completely satisfactory book.
The author, in some endnotes, admits that she didn't have time to investigate some areas sufficiently, which reveals the book to be a bit of a Dickens bicentenary cash-in ie slightly rushed.
Quibbles aside, I couldn't put the book down. Richardson has done thorough reseach of the street Dickens lived in and brings London of that period to life.
The London Poor element is the book's real strength. Reading about workhouses and the Poor Law as our government debate welfare reform is chilling. Richardson brings home the horrors of Poor Law provision.
A bibliography and suggested further reading would have been useful.
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