Category: Dickens and London 2012

Dickens London Haunts

December 23, 2015

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http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-dickens-london-1924/

Take a look at this. The real London locations which formed the settings for various Dickens novels are shown, sometimes with characters from the books superimposed. The remaining locations are all associated with scenes from the books: the Old Curiosity Shop off the Aldwych, the Adelphi arches (now Embankment), the site of the blacking factory at Hungerford Market and Jacob’s Island from Oliver Twist.

Based on a successful magazine, the film series Wonderful London captures the life of the capital in the 1920s. These simple travelogues contrast different aspects of city life; East End and West End, poor and rich, natives and immigrants, looking beyond the stereotypes to show surprising views of the city. These six restorations by the BFI National Archive reintroduce the films’ original colours, with new piano accompaniments by John Sweeney.

Dickens and London at the Museum of London 2012

April 15, 2012

On Saturday whilst in the great metropolis I decided to take in the current ‘Dickens and London’ exhibition at the Museum of London. Tickets are £7, the Museum blurb says:

To mark the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth, the Museum of London will be holding an exhibition celebrating his work. London was Dickens’ ‘magic lantern’ providing the setting and inspiration for some of his greatest works.

This atmospheric and multi-sensory exhibition will explore his 

love/hate relationship with the city and will examine London life through his words and the contemporary social issues he threw under the spotlight. It will include manuscripts of some of his most famous novels, his writing desk and chair, artefacts, paintings and audiovisual effects to create an immersive and exciting journey through Dickens’ imagination.

I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it, the reason being it had more

about London of his time than the great author himself.

There were a few manuscripts, a few pieces of furniture, a few costumes, lots of images and paintings of London plus the blurb about them.

“The best celebration of Dickens’ legacy.” ***** The Independent

“The Museum of London’s new exhibition will enthrall.” londonist.com

Got to be honest having read the above on the website I wondered if I was at the same exhibition as these chaps. 

The apparent highlight of the exhibition was ‘an audio-visual experience bringing to life the famous painting of Dickens’ Dream at the desk and chair where he wrote his novels’. Well it wasn’t a highlight for me.

If you are planning a trip don’t expect too much and myself and my friends decided it definitely wasn’t worth £7 and of course the £8 fare to get to London.