Comments on: Review: David Copperfield

By: John Goerzen

John Goerzen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:43:06 +0000

Thanks for the tip. That does sound like a good read.

By: Jim Hague

Jim Hague — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:03:01 +0000

If you’re going to tackle more Dickens, you might find this book helpful. http://www.amazon.com/Austen-Charles-Dickens-Whist-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0671882368. Although it does contain a few errors, and may leave you (unintentionally, I think) with the impression that some items of detail pertain only to 19th century Britain when in fact they are still relevant today, as a concise explanation of the importance of the Quarter Days and what the hell you actually did in Doctors Commons it’s pretty good. Being a Brit who got his primary education in the days of pounds, shillings and pence, I obviously had a head start over the average American, but nevertheless found it valuable.

I don’t know what’s in the Kindle dictionary, but you will find remuneration to company directors still descibed in accounts here as ‘Directors emoluments’. It almost implies that they didn’t do anything so crass as actually work for it.

If you’re interested in a snapshot of early 19th century life, Dickens first big hit, The Pickwick Papers, is worth a shot. I particularly remember it for the brief description of a break at an inn during a coach journey – the amount of alcohol consumed is deeply impressive.

By: Steve Kemp

Steve Kemp — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:36:18 +0000

Its interesting that you notice the foreshadowing – I recently read Great Expectations for the first time, and I was struck by how much it was obviously written in a serial fashion.

There were moments of foreshadowing, but so many new characters arrived promptly at the start of a new chapter/installment that it was almost obvious how much it was being made up as he went along.

Still a great read regardless, and I’m definitely planning on reading some more of his books!