Charles Dickens

'PICKWICK PAPERS'

Pickwick Papers was suggested to me as a possible reading. However, reducing Pickwick Papers to something that could be delivered in 45-60 minutes proved too daunting a task, so instead I have selected some of my favourite episodes, and interspersed their delivery with the story of how "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club'" came to be written.

THE PUBLIC READINGS

Charles Dickens was undoubtedly one of our greatest writers - but he was also a very talented actor, a talent which he brought to life during the staged readings of his novels, both in this country and the Unites States of America.

This is the story of how those readings came about, interspersed with examples of his public readings.

'THE CHIMES'

A dramatised reading of 'The Chimes', Charles Dickens's second Christmas novella, which tells the story of Toby Veck - a poor elderly messenger or 'ticket-porter' - and his redemption from a life of despondency and gloom one New Year's eve.

'Doctor Marigold'

A dramatised reading of 'Doctor Marigold'.

It is the only monologue Dickens wrote to be performed as public readings, and tells the story of Doctor Marigold, a cheap jack, an itinerant salesman, who plied his trade from a travelling cart.

Be warned - handkerchiefs should be at the ready.

Runs for 45 minutes. Can be combined with other of his public readings.

'Sykes and Nancy'

A dramatised reading of 'Sykes and Nancy', one of Charles Dickens's many public readings. It is taken from his novel 'Oliver Twist', and covers the death of Nancy at the hands of Bill Sykes, and Sykes's ultimate demise.

It is believed that the physical exertion of rehearsing and performing the reading was a contributory factor in Dickens's untimely death.

Runs for 40 minutes. Can be combined with other of his public readings.