Everybody has heard of Charles Dickens, one of the greatest writers in English literature and I dare say, everybody has read one or more of his works. If not (shame on you!) 2012 is the time to (re)discover him, since the literary world is celebrating 200 years since his birth.
You can find everything about his life here , his works online here or any related event to Dickens 2012 here. Oh, and if you happen to visit London, The Charles Dickens Museum has reopened.
For those pressed for time, the BBC has adapted Dickens' works for the screen and Great Expectations broadcast at the end of 2011 was a total success for the British audience and I loved it, but I still have trouble deciding if it's better or not than the 1998 version...
"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."
"I never had one hour's happiness in her society, and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours was harping on the happiness of having her with me unto death."
Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape."
Quotes taken from Great Expectations.
6 comments:
Ha, maybe now is the right time to get out the 20 DVD Charles Dickens collection that John gave me for my birthday last year. I am not so much into reading him right now...
My oh my, what long cosy nights await you watching that collection :)
Apropos 200 years, did you know that the Fairy Tales by the Brother's Grimm celebrate their 200th anniversary this year?
And of course, now that you mention the museum I need to go to London again ;-) !
We need to go to London again :) Plus, I haven't visited the museum before, so that's definitely a must see...
I have been consciously working to read and re-read Dickens for the past couple of years and have been enjoying them tremendously. I read Bleak House in December. I don't know which one will be next -- maybe Oliver Twist.
Shamefully, i haven't read any Dickens since college, but I have seen a few adaptations :) Have you seen BBC's latest Great Expectations?
Post a Comment