Reading Dickens

This morning on Facebook, the British Library posted a clip of Simon Callow reading the “Death of Nancy” scene from Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, Oliver Twist. So brilliantly does Callow (who frequently plays Dickens in one-man shows) perform this scene, that one could easily imagine what it must have been like witnessing Dickens himself perform the very same reading in the last years of his life.

At the time Dickens first contemplated including the “Death of Nancy” scene in his public readings, he was a bit concerned that the subject might be inappropriate for the mixed company ever present at his popular performances. Eager to hear other opinions, he arranged for a preview engagement that took place on November 14, 1868 at St. James Hall, Piccadilly before a special handpicked audience of approximately fifty critics, artists, and literary men of London.

One of those present was (William) Charles Kent (1823-1902), editor, journalist, and friend of Dickens. Before the performance began, Dickens whispered to Kent, "I want you to watch this particularly, for I am very doubtful about it myself!" Kent, who later wrote of the experience, recalled, “In its climax, it was as splendid a piece of tragic acting as had for many years been witnessed.”

There is a delightful connection to this story in the collection at the Rosenbach in the form of a lock of Dickens’ hair that was sent to Charles Kent by Georgina Hogarth, Dickens’ sister-in-law, shortly after the author’s death in June of 1870. One can only imagine what a priceless memento of his literary friend it must have been.

This same lock of hair will be on display in the partner desk for the upcoming Romance at the Rosenbach Tour to be presented in February.