Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Prince Charles leads Dickens anniverary celebrations


Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic novels and characters.

Many of his writings were originally published serially, in monthly instalments, a format of publication which Dickens himself helped popularise. Unlike other authors who completed novels before serialisation, Dickens often created the episodes as they were being serialised. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by cliffhangers to keep the public looking forward to the next instalment. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print.

Dickens's work has been highly praised for its realism, comedy, mastery of prose, unique personalities and concern for social reform by writers such as Leo Tolstoy, George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton; though others, such as Henry James and Virginia Woolf, have criticised it for sentimentality and implausibility.

Prince Charles is a global celebration on Tuesday marking the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens, one of the most respected writers of English literature, who wrote "Bleak House" and "A Tale of Two Cities."

The British heir to the throne, visited by Charles Dickens Museum in London, where the American actress Gillian Anderson, who played Miss Havisham in the BBC adaptation of "Great Expectations" will be read on the job novelist.

The prince then goes to Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath on the grave of the writer, whose stories and characters have lived in countless stage and screen adaptations.

There's an actor Ralph Fiennes, Claire Tomalin Dickens's biographer and great-great grandson of the author, Mark Dickens will be a special service for readers in the Poets Corner, where Dickens was buried in 1870, along with Geoffrey Chaucer, Tennyson, Samuel Johnson, Rudyard Kipling and other great writers.

The event will be the largest collection of the descendants of Dickens, with more than 200 members of the family going.

"This should help the Bicentennial reaffirm our commitment to improving the plight of the disadvantaged of our days," said Dean of Westminster, John Hall, referring to the concerns of Dickens social justice in their work and life.

British Council statement of the global "reading marathon" with 24 readings of 24 Dickens texts in 24 hours from Australia, taking in countries such as Iraq, China and Pakistan.

Current events coincides with the anniversary include exhibitions in Zurich, New York and across the UK, theatrical performances of professional artists and students, as well as online tribute to bloggers in Spain.

Lasting international community to Dickens due to the fact that his capture and brightest stories remain relevant today.

His first experiences working as a child in the factory while his father was imprisoned for debt, fueled by his ambition and inspired some of his most famous characters and settings are likely, including Fagin in "Oliver Twist."

The first story of Dickens' "appeared in 1833, around the time he became a parliamentary correspondent in London.

His first novel, "Pickwick Papers" was serialized in 1836 and became a success and was followed by "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby."

The author traveled to the United States in 1842 and 1867 on reading tours, and between them produced some of his most famous books - "Bleak House", "Hard Times", "Little Dorrit," "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations" .

He carried a whiff of scandal, when in his mid-forties, he met a teenager Ellen Ternan, and their relationship led to his separation from Catherine, his wife and mother of his 10 children.

The author died at his home near Rochester in Kent in 1870 at age 58 and was buried in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey. Thousands of people visited his open grave to pay tribute and throw flowers before its closure.

No comments:

Post a Comment