Victorians! discussion

Charles Dickens’ fourth novel, The Old Curiosity Shop first appeared in serial form between April 1840 and February 1841. The serial appeared in Dickens’ weekly periodical, Master Humphrey’s Clock, one of two books of his to be serialized there (the other was Barnaby Rudge). The book traces the story of a young girl, Nell Trent (not quite fourteen), who lives with her Grandfather in his shop of odds and ends. Her grandfather loves her and wants to provide for her but ends up choosing the wrong path to doing so, falling into gambling and debt (owed to the odious Quilp). He suffers a breakdown and Nell must look after him and they also have to leave their home. Alongside we also have a cast of colourful characters, including Kit Nubbles, the servant at the shop and Nell’s friend; Quilp the moneylender and villain of the piece; Richard Swiveller, laidback and worry free, who works with Sampson Brass an attorney, and the ‘marchioness’, small servant to Miss Brass.

The book is said to have been so popular that New York readers stormed the wharf when the final instalment came in. In fact, it is said to have been Dickens’ most popular book during his lifetime.

The book was illustrated by George Cattermole and Hablot Knight Browne or ‘Phiz’; I love the latter’s illustrations for Dickens. In case your edition is missing these, find them on the Victorian Web here: https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...

Charles Dickens: Well, what does one say about Dickens himself? Born on 7 February 1812, Charles John Huffam Dickens is regarded by many as the greatest Victorian writer, known both for his fiction and his role as a social critic. He wrote 15 full-length novels (the last incomplete), several short stories, five novellas, and also numerous articles. He also edited a weekly journal and was an active social campaigner. Social issues are in fact highlighted in many of his books including the education system (for instance in Nicholas Nickleby), the poor state of nursing (Sairey Gamp in Martin Chuzzlewit); the injustices of the poor laws (via Betty Higden in Our Mutual Friend, and Oliver Twist), among many others.

Find a bio on the Victorian Web here: https://victorianweb.org/authors/dick...

Biography.com: here: https://www.biography.com/writer/char...

Charles Dickens Info: here: https://www.charlesdickensinfo.com/li...

For our group read, I’ve divided up the book into 8 segments of 9 chapters each. The last segment is slightly longer with a concluding chapter, but barring the first and last segment we have under 70 pages to read each week. The first chapter is quite long (much more so than the others), so don’t let that deter you

Week 1: Oct 17–23: Chapters 1–9
Week 2: Oct 24–30: Chapters 10–18
Week 3: Oct 31–Nov 6: Chapters 19–27
Week 4: Nov 7–13: Chapters 28–36
Week 5: Nov 14–20: Chapters 37–45
Week 6: Nov 21–27: Chapters 46–54
Week 7: Nov 28–Dec 4: Chapters 55–63
Week 8: Dec 5–11: Chapters 64– end.

Find the book (in public domain) in various formats: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/700

Audio on Librivox; https://librivox.org/the-old-curiosit...

And a second version: https://librivox.org/the-old-curiosit...

An article about the building that inspired Dickens: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/t...

And another here: https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/charl...

Glad to hear that Lucia. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful discussion

Thank you very much.
Can't wait to start.

Good to hear Miriam .

I confess I've never finished a Dickens' novel, always put it down before the end. I hope this will be the one I'm going to read through.

Hope all our chats will help Miriam

Miriam wrote: "I confess I've never finished a Dickens' novel, always put it down before the end. I hope this will be the one I'm going to read through."

Sometimes, it helps to read with a group, Miriam, especially when the books are lengthy reads. I'm sure you'll be fine with this moderate schedule and will see the book to its end.

I think you're both right.
I'm confident I will enjoy this experience. Thank you for your kindness.

🙂

Here are a couple of resources that may be of interest.

For those who are reading an ebook or paper copy without illustrations, the set of original illustrations used in the weekly magazine have been assembled here. ( I think they are in the order of the story but be careful re spoilers.)

https://www.charlesdickenspage.com/il....

Here is the first as an example.

There is a TV movie of the book from 1995 starring Sally Walsh (as Nell), Peter Ustinov and Tom Courtenay. It is available from the Internet Archive here. (I have not watched it but the reviews are very good.)

https://archive.org/details/the-old-c...

Thanks for sharing these Trev.

I hadn't come across the Ustinov film earlier. Must check that out.

This time I have a real paper book and I am very happy. It is a Wordsworth Classics edition with the original illustrations. I am currently reading Little Dorrit on my cell, Doctor Wortle's school on my Kindle and only Tom Jones on paper, I needed more paper!

@Daniela:

Instead I can't read digital books, I can't concentrate. Only paperback editions for me. Though ebook are cheapest.

Daniela wrote: "This time I have a real paper book and I am very happy. It is a Wordsworth Classics edition with the original illustrations. I am currently reading Little Dorrit on my cell, Doctor Wortle's school ..."

Have you seen the BBC adaptation of Little Dorrit with Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen and Tom Courtenay? It is probably my favourite Dickens adaptation because the acting and atmosphere of Victorian London are so good.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178522/

I would like to join in with this group read. I haven’t read the book before, so it should be interesting.

Thank you, Trev, I will try to find and watch it.

Glad to hear you have a paper copy, Daniella. I have the wordsworth edition as well.

Glad to hear that Trisha.

My favourite paperback edition is Oxford world's classics, because it has a quite larger print than the others and so, being short sighted, I can read easily.

I don't know if some of you has got my same problem, but when you're after forties your eyes are not the same anymore and finding a larger printed copy is not always so easy. Sometimes I dismissed some books because they caused me migraines with their small and thick print.

I can understand; I have terrible eyes as it is so don't like to strain them either. Most of my university days purchases were wordsworth eds though since they were more affordable and I still have most of these. I may eventually replace some, though.

Excited to be reading my first book with the group! I love Dickens and can’t wait for the discussions about Curiosity Shop with you!

I started reading this a few months ago but I didn’t continue. This time I’m ready to read with the group!

Glad to hear that Denise and Beril. Hope you enjoy the book. The discussion for part 1 is open now.