Monday 18 July 2011

What The Dickens


Dickens House Museum
Broadstairs
Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the day of Broadstairs, it was the day of downfalls, it was the period of shoreline serenity, it was the period of tenacious precipitation, it was the Victorian fame, it was the nostalgic disarray, it was the summer of Dickens facts, it was the Fall of significant news..."significant news?"
On the train to Broadstairs...
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Beach at Broadstairs below the Dickens House Museum


Victorian Gentleman's Chair
Victorian Lady's Chair
As the title and previous annotation suggest, we strolled upon our merry ways into the Dickens House Museum.  This quaint, old house was once the home of Miss Mary Pearson Strong on whom Charles Dickens based much of the character, Miss Betsey Trotwood, David Copperfield's great aunt, in his novel David Copperfield.  
Charles Dickens came to know Miss Strong very well and visited her cottage on many occasions--according to the bloke in charge of the museum--and like her (Ms. Strong), Dickens wrote all his characters after actual, real-life, regular folks just like you--"If you don't mind my saying so." 
Dickens was also, "The Man", of his day out-writing and out-selling all of his contemporaries. Not only was he a man of words, but also a talented thespian--which according to the museum curator, this was his "true" calling. 
Menagerie of Dickens' writings
The Mahogany Sideboard--Side 1:  Bought by Dickens in  1836
The Mahogany Sideboard--Side 2
Victorian Styled Room 
A Stereoscopic Viewer

Victorian Smoking Hat