Dickensians! discussion

LITTLE DORRIT:





Please note - Summaries of each chapter, and comments on the text itself, begin with comment 66.

Little Dorrit is Charles Dickens’s eleventh novel, and was originally published over nineteen months, between December 1855 and June 1857:

First Book: Poverty

I – December 1855 (chapters 1–4)
Chapter 1 (Message 66)
Chapter 2 (Message 123)
Chapter 3 (Message 192)
Chapter 4 (Message 237)

II – January 1856 (chapters 5–8)
Chapter 5 (Message 279)
Chapter 6 (Message 307)
Chapter 7 (Message 339)
Chapter 8 (Message 380)

III – February 1856 (chapters 9–11)
Chapter 9 (Message 393)
Chapter 10 (Message 429)
Chapter 11 (Message 458)
Chapter 12 (Message 123)

If you click on each underlined chapter, it will link to the summary.

This completes the links for this thread (with many thanks to Nisa!) The novel continues:

IV – March 1856 (chapters 12–14)
V – April 1856 (chapters 15–18)
VI – May 1856 (chapters 19–22)
VII – June 1856 (chapters 23–25)
VIII – July 1856 (chapters 26–29)
IX – August 1856 (chapters 30–32)
X – September 1856 (chapters 33–36)

Second Book: (view spoiler)[ Riches (hide spoiler)]

XI – October 1856 (chapters 1–4)
XII – November 1856 (chapters 5–7)
XIII – December 1856 (chapters 8–11)
XIV – January 1857 (chapters 12–14)
XV – February 1857 (chapters 15–18)
XVI – March 1857 (chapters 19–22)
XVII – April 1857 (chapters 23–26)
XVIII – May 1857 (chapters 27–29)
XIX-XX – June 1857 (chapters 30–34)

Each instalment cost a shilling (5p) except for the last, which was a double issue and cost two shillings. The illustrations were again by Hablot Knight Browne or "Phiz", his favourite artist and friend.

I'm saying nothing more about this book, until we start, as some readers may wish to come to the reads without knowing anything about it :)

For those who would like to watch a dramatisation alongside, there are two, and both very good in my opinion. One is from 1987, and one from 2007. They are both made by the BBC, and both available on DVD. Our member Mark has more details for our US members about these LINK HERE

***Please remember, we read one chapter a day which is 70 chapters in all, and this is how we comment too. Obviously how much and how fast you read is up to you! This is just a way which proved popular last time, and helps to anchor the read :)

PLEASE observe our courtesy rule ie., do not include spoilers! Everything up to the current chapter is fine, but not beyond. If you would like to say something which includes later events for some reason, please use the spoiler tags. Newbies, please read the thread on Spoilers.

Just 2 days to go! Who's reading this one with us?

I am! Will begin duly when it's due to. I'm so excited. I intend to learn a lot from everyone else.

I am looking forward to reading this book here. Two more days!

Yay! I'm in too! This is going to be awesome!!!

I will also be reading along - chapter by chapter. I haven't read Little Dorrit before.

I am in. Of all Dickens ‘ s hefty classics I have read only David Copperfield.

I’m so in! I’ve read this in 2008, but at a weird time (I was in a psychiatric hospital because of a psychosis) so I’m not sure I remember a lot about it.

I will start listening to Little Dorrit on Tuesday when everyone starts reading. My version is narrated by Simon Vance and is almost 32 hours in length. Each chapter is clearly marked in my Audible version.

I'm excited to start reading Little Dorrit on Tuesday. This will be a first time read for me.

We have so many varied reasons already! I'm really looking forward to getting everyone's perspectives :)

I will be reading it also. I'm so looking forward to it.

Quick question, why is there such a discrepancy in the number of pages between these two editions? One is featured on this group's home page, the other, is by default on the general Goodreads search engine. I thought only Bleak House is over 1000 pages among Dickens's bibliography.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I will be joining in too, this is a reread for me but I read it many years ago (at least 20) so I’m sure there will be lots of details I’ve forgotten and can enjoy all over again.

Hi. I’ll drop in from time to time. I read half way through when this book was first chosen by the group, then put it aside..

Btw, Kathleen mentions the Simon Vance audio. He reads this under a pseudonym..Robert Whitman or
something like that. I love Simon Vance. I started with the newer version read by Anton Loeser (spelling?) but
quickly switched to the Simon
Vance audio, as I think he’s the perfect reader for this. P.S. It’s an old audio, so many libraries will have it, and it’s available as an e-audio. I think Audible has both versions.

Luffy wrote: "Quick question, why is there such a discrepancy in the number of pages between these two editions? ..."

Hi Luffy,

The second one is a "Penguin Classics" edition, with an introduction, and sometimes these are annotated too. Plus there may be illustrations in some editions rather than others. I don't have any "Penguin Classics", but perhaps someone who has will say if this one has lots of notes.

"I thought only Bleak House is over 1000 pages among Dickens's bibliography"

Page counts vary. As well as these reasons, there's also the size of print, and the size of the book itself! So, by word count Little Dorrit is the 4th longest at 339,870 words. You're right that Bleak House beats it - just! That comes in number 3 at 355,936 words. In second place is Dombey and Son (357,484 words) and in first place with a massive 357,489 words is ... David Copperfield which we've just read YAY!

For all you statisticians ;)

Thanks :)I've got the penguin version. You really know your stuff. I'm going to read every Dickens book or die trying.

Ooo I hope those notes are good! But you have to be careful not to read things too soon ... I never read prefaces etc., until the end! Does anyone else feel like that?

Yes, Jean, I do that too even on a reread, you never know if things you have forgotten will be mentioned or not. I also have a version with notes, it's from the The Modern Library Classics, the introduction is my David Gates (the same author as did the intro for my David Copperfield version) and the illustrations are included!

I'm certain there won't be better notes in short supply right here. I'm yet to browse the book. Gonna wait till the 15th.

I will be joining in. I discovered this group as the David Copperfield reading was coming to an end burps I intend to participate in this and future group reads.

I am looking forward to rereading Little Dorrit with this diverse and interesting group. May read at a different rate than the group but will stick to commenting only on material covered already by the schedule.

I'm am delighted we have more new friends joining in this read :) And thanks for alerting us to the audio edition, Mona.

Stephen - I'm really pleased you picked this one up, after one of our short reads. And Mark and Kathleen too. I'm sure we'll all benefit from all this input and different views.

Yes, the one chapter a day isn't a straitjacket, just a pinpoint for us to focus on.

I'm in! I am goanna try for the strict one chapter a day, as I have soooo many other books to read as well!

I will be joining this discussion!

YAY! And you know what they say, slow but steady wins the race, Jenny :)

Yes, I am in too. I did start it- just a few chapters. I like the chapter a day - very doable for me.

What always takes me by surprise, is how different the chapters are in length! Some are quite long, with several events, and others much shorter, and just about one person or place.

Nowadays we might expect chapters to be more consistent in length, but of course Charles Dickens was writing installments - and it is these which would be equal in length. It was only later that the installments would be broken down into 3 or 4 chapters.

Great to see you here too Martha :)

Oh, I didn’t notice the longer ones yet, but that’s ok- I’ll buckle down and get the job done! I’m looking forward to the discussions!

Excited to start! It’s fun to see how it was published so you can commiserate with the readers of the time who had to wait a month to see what happens next!

Ashley wrote: "Excited to start! It’s fun to see how it was published so you can commiserate with the readers of the time who had to wait a month to see what happens next!"

Absolutely! And to check if you're at the end of an original installment when there's a big cliffhanger LOL! I'm so glad you managed to juggle your reads and find room for this, Ashley :)

Martha wrote: "Oh, I didn’t notice the longer ones yet ..."

Don't worry - the first chapter's quite long, with lots in it, and you've read that. Sorry to mislead you!

Bionic Jean wrote: "Ooo I hope those notes are good! But you have to be careful not to read things too soon ... I never read prefaces etc., until the end! Does anyone else feel like that?"

I also have learned not to read prefaces before reading the book. Not only do they sometimes give away too much of the plot, but some are very opinionated and I want to read the book first and form my own opinions before reading those of someone else.

I will be participating too. Listening to the Simon Vance audio as well. Looking forward to my first read with this group!

Katy wrote: "Bionic Jean wrote: "Ooo I hope those notes are good! But you have to be careful not to read things too soon ... I never read prefaces etc., until the end! Does anyone else feel like that?"

I also ..."

Same here.

Will wait till tomorrow. I fear fatigue might set in in the middle of the book for me because unlike for Jean and others like-minded, Dickens is not like breathing for me. It's still an acquired taste. I'll also not bow down neither to the generation of the hype which group reads so easily generate, nor to peer pressure. If I don't enjoy it, I'll admit it. If I find it unreadable, remote theory indeed, but it happens, then I'll quit. Let's hope that never happens, and that I go along with the flow and the book appeals to me.

I can begin only in October, unfortunately. But I will try and catch you all then. Good luck to you all and looking forward to joining in.

Katy wrote: "Not only do they sometimes give away too much of the plot, but some are very opinionated ..."

Yes, good points! Strangely enough today I have been reading G.K. Chesterton's Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens, and I'm not sure I agree with his overall assessment of Little Dorrit at all.

Incidentally, sometimes this specific short essay is included in an edition of the novel itself, I think, but there aren't any spoilers in it, (except in general terms) in case anyone is wondering if it's "safe".

Anne, looking forward to having you along, and Piyangie too, whenever you can join us :)

Luffy - "It's still an acquired taste. I'll also not bow down neither to the generation of the hype which group reads so easily generate, nor to peer pressure.

Of course not! I'm not sure what you mean by hype though ... plenty of people don't like Charles Dickens at all! So perhaps that's more in contemporary novels? If the book doesn't appeal to you, or you don't enjoy any group read, then please just stop. That's what I do :) But I do hope you get something out of this one. Even though the language is sometimes tortuous, there will be summaries to help.

@Jean,

According to your vast experience dealing with readers, both online and in real life, why do many people don't like Dickens?

I did give David Copperfield a high rating, so I'm not a lost cause :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "Anne, looking forward to having you along, and Piyangie too, whenever you can join us :)"

Jean, like you said summeries and the other informations you shared made it easy to go on for me. I'm not sure I could finish an enjoy David Copperfield, as much as I had, if weren't for the group read.
I will read Little Dorrit too. I hope this time I can read at the same time with everyone. But if not to read all comments would help me anyway :)).

YAY! Nisa's in :)

I'm in. I read this fairly recently, so I am looking forward to seeing how the discussion and input from others either changes my view of the book or helps me to find things I missed the first time around. I find Dickens is so detail oriented and complex, even when the story seems to be simple, that there are always new discoveries to be had.

I am another who never reads the prefaces or notes before I read the text. Not always, but far too often, a spoiler.

Bionic Jean wrote: "YAY! Nisa's in :)"

:)))

Sara wrote: "I'm in. I read this fairly recently, so I am looking forward to seeing how the discussion and input from others either changes my view of the book or helps me to find things I missed the first time..."

Dickens is amazingly complex. In contrast the best classics from other European countries, pale in comparison.

Luffy wrote: "why do many people don't like Dickens? ..."

I'm tempted to say I have no idea! But I do have a few:

1. They may have been force-fed Charles Dickens, or been badly taught at school, before they were ready for him.

2. My European friends tell me that his language is particularly difficult, even compared with other Victorian writers. I suspect this is because he is so cynical for much of the time, and in his most satirical parts, he says the opposite of what he believes.

3. His novels are episodic: a series of unrelated incidents. (If they are found to link together, than this same group of people would probably object to the "coincidences".) This is because now people like to follow one story-line, and think in terms of "subplots". A novel like David Copperfield does have a central thread, but Barnaby Rudge is hardly the main character in that novel. And in Martin Chuzzlewit you don't even know which character is meant! Bleak House has several stories all equally important all woven together ... etc.!

4. Anyone who has watched a dramatisation may find the novel far more complex, (and rewarding!) and be disappointed that they have to work at it a bit.

5. Those not used to say Victorian novels say:

a) he "needs editing" because they are not used to discursive writing
b) he is too melodramatic
c) has an old-fashioned view of an "ideal woman"

And now I'm feeling depressed :(

Sara - it only lasted a few seconds ;) So glad you're in too, making your wonderful observations!

Bionic Jean wrote: "And now I'm feeling depressed :("

Please, no. Do snap out of it Jean. I'm going to be learning to read Dickens in the intelligentsia's shade. I want the best for everyone in this group. I wish you have been joking. See you tomorrow.