London is redolent with sites which appeared in the books of Charles Dickens and, having had a look at his life, it’s time we turn our attention to some of the sites relevant to his writing. For the next two weeks, we’re looking at just a few of the many, many sites which feature in his novels. So, here’s seven places to get us going…
• Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell. Once a notorious slum akin to St Giles (see last week’s entry) and the city’s Italian Quarter, Saffron Hill is where Fagin and his gang of thieves operate in Oliver Twist and have their den.
• Chancery Lane, Holborn. Much of the novel Bleak House is set around this narrow street between High Holborn and Fleet Street – Tom Jarndyce kills himself in a coffee shop here in the novel and Lincoln’s Inn Hall – formerly home of the High Court of Chancery – also features.
• The Old Bailey. Some have suggested Dickens worked here as a court reporter although there is no compelling evidence he did so. But the the Old Bailey (the current building dates from the early 20th century, well after Dickens’ death) and Newgate Prison certainly featured in his books – it is here that Fagin is eventually hung in Oliver Twist.
• Child & Co’s Bank, Fleet Street. While the present building dates from 1878, Dickens is believed to have used the bank as the model for Tellson’s Bank in A Tale of Two Cities.
• St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street. In David Copperfield, David and his aunt, Betsy Trotwood, make a special trip to see the giants Gog and Magog strike the church bells. It also features in Barnaby Rudge and Dickens dedicated his Christmas story, The Chimes, to the church.
• Garden Court and Fountain Court (pictured), Middle Temple. Garden Court is where Pip lived in Great Expectations and where Abel Magwitch turned up to reveal himself as Pip’s benefactor. Fountain Court features in Martin Chuzzlewit as the site for the romance of Ruth Pinch and John Westlock.
• Golden Square, Soho. Mentioned in Nicholas Nickleby – Nicholas’ uncle, Ralph Nickleby, was thought to live in a previous building at number seven.
There’s some great books about London sites which appear in Dickens’ books – among them are Ed Glinert’s Literary London: A Street by Street Exploration of the Capital’s Literary Heritage
A Walk Through Charles Dickens’ London
The Exploring London Little List of Books for Christmas…
December 13, 2011
Looking for a last minute Christmas gift. We thought we’d help out with a list of some of our favorite books released this year…
• Philip Davies’ Panoramas of Lost London: Work, Wealth, Poverty and Change 1870-1945; is a beautiful and moving photographic tour through London that was;
• February next year sees the bicentennary of the birth of Charles Dickens, so why not take a look at Claire Tomalin’s at times controversial biography Charles Dickens: A Life;
• Lucy Worlsey’s, Courtiers: The Secret History of the Georgian Court, includes the fascinating story of Peter the Wild Boy;
• David Brandon and Alan Brooke take an in-depth look south of the Thames in Bankside: London’s Original District of Sin;
• And on a similar theme (better brace yourself for this one) is Catharine Arnold’s look at the seedy side of London - City of Sin: London and Its Vices;
• Nicholas Kenyon edits this comprehensive survey of architecture – The City of London: Architectural Tradition & Innovation in the Square Mile;
• Paul Talling digs under the city’s skin in London’s Lost Rivers;
• Amid the ever-growing number of walking guides to London come Stephen Millar’s, London’s Hidden Walks, Volume 1; and, Andrew Duncan’s Walking Village London: Original Walks Through London’s Villages;
• While, for a quirky look at the city, why not try Ianthe Ruthven’s A Spotters Guide to Animal London?
These are, of course, just some of the many wonderful books released this year…Let us know of any you think people should add to their Christmas shopping lists…
