Victorians! discussion

Please use this thread to comment on the first chapter/story: Over the Way. You may respond to discussion questions or remark on any aspect of this section.

1) How does this section set up what is to come?
2) What elements suggest that this part was written by Mr. Dickens?

This part certainly sets the scene:
the house has not been let for years, when Sophonisba, who prefers to be called Sara, notices a mysterious eye peeking out of a corner of a window, and is curious. She finds out that the house belongs to a distant cousin, who is a very unpleasant man.

It's entertaining so far.

I’m really enjoying the character of Sophonisba. She’s a pill. The first scene with the doctor cracked me up! As did the competition she kindles between her Jabez Jarber and Trottle.

A random eye peering out of a supposedly empty house would be nervous-making. It makes me ever more curious about why “the house won’t let.”

I have just started and am enjoying it. I can detect Dickensian humour.

I read Dickens' novels before but this story is that both humor and eventful.

Great stuff...it sets an eerie tone using humour, clever! I like the way we’re left eager to know about the cousin and his daughter, and also Mr Jarber’s news.

I agree. I definitely want to know more after reading this chapter. I can’t wait to see what the other writers have to contribute!

I started this one yesterday and read this part. A mysterious quality is certainly added to the story by this section with the "House to Let" is constantly haunting Sophonisba. We learn it belongs to an estranged cousin of hers at the end of the section. I too am curious to learn more.

Was this part written by Dickens? I'm not surprised if it is, for I can see the use of curious character names and humour.

I looked up the authors of each section. This section was co-written by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens.

Rosemarie wrote: "I looked up the authors of each section. This section was co-written by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens."

Thank you, Rosemarie. It would be really nice to learn which part is written by which authors. I'm curious to learn which parts were written by Elizabeth Gaskell and to see how different they are from those parts written by Dickens and Collins.

I finished yesterday, it was nice, I enjoyed the story.

Piyangie wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I looked up the authors of each section. This section was co-written by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens."

Thank you, Rosemarie. It would be really nice to learn which part is ..."

The paragraph below might help to explain who wrote which sections (if it is accurate,)

‘In a letter to Collins from 6 September 1858, Dickens outlined his idea for a Christmas story. He originally envisaged the story being written by himself and Collins with his plot outline fleshed out by Collins, but was later to invite Gaskell and Procter to contribute chapters. Dickens and Collins wrote the first chapter, "Over the Way", and the last chapter "Let at Last" together, and each of the writers wrote one of the intervening chapters: Gaskell "The Manchester Marriage", Dickens "Going into Society", Procter "Three Evenings in the House" and Collins "Trottle's Report".

The story is in my kindle edition of Wilkie Collins’ collected works. I enjoyed the opening section. The tension between Sophonisba’s two admirers was quickly made evident and the mystery of the gleaming eye was fascinating as well as disturbing.’

I wonder if her two admirers represent Dickens and Collins, since they are so different. I would say that Trottle was created by Collins.

Trev wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I looked up the authors of each section. This section was co-written by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens."

Thank you, Rosemarie. It would be really nice to lea..."

Thank you, Trev, for sharing that tidbit.

I am going to get started on this this week. Just finding out about it.

I am at a loss with this part in some ways. This older couple sort of has a relationship from the past where he proposed to her and she refused several times. It seems that their relationship now is that they are just friends but he still has romantic feelings for her. They are exchanging stories about things that happened in the house which makes it difficult to get people to let it is that right?

That sums it up pretty well, Joanne.