Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers鈥攆rom Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton鈥攆or its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
P盲盲tinp盲 ett盲 kuuntelen nyt klassikkokirjan, joskus aikoja sitten olen Dickensi盲 koittanut kirjana lukea mutta kesken j盲i. Aikamoista jaaritteluahan t盲m盲 on, kerronta sujuvaa ja miellytt盲v盲盲 kumminkin. Ei kyll盲 tulis kovakantisena luettua viel盲k盲盲n mutta 盲盲苍颈办颈谤箩补na ihan ok. On kyll盲 hieno taito kirjoittaa niin ajatonta kerrontaa ett盲 ajan kuluminen julkaisuajankohdasta ei vaikuta.
Poner esta novela en su justo valor no es tarea f谩cil. Dickens extiende toda su maestr铆a a lo largo de la obra : la descripci贸n del marjal y suburbios de Londres, del entorno del chico protagonista, Pip, la herrer铆a,las costumbres y usos de la Inglaterra victoriana. Y sus personajes, modelados por el patr贸n social de su 茅poca, a veces de forma grotesca y barroca : la rica y esquizofr茅nica Lady Havisham, mu帽eca rota digna representante del universo Carroll o de la iconograf铆a de la artista brit谩nica Kate Bush; el engolado se帽or Pumblechook y el halc贸n de la City,el eficaz abogado Jaggers; los pillos, convictos ,buscavidas.... Por otra parte, los dechados de bondad y rectitud: el hombre sencillo de la herrer铆a,Joe Gargery; el fiel amigo, Herbert o la angelical Biddy.
En este mundo el autor mueve al hu茅rfano de esta novela,Pip,por un camino que Dickens acostumbra a recorrer en algunas de sus historias, que lleva de la m谩s solemne de las miserias al 茅xito material y personal. Es un claro precedente del "sue帽o americano", gestado en una sociedad industrial y competitiva. No voy a descubrir al posible lector si Pip llega o no a lo m谩s alto, pero s铆 comentar茅 que el genial escritor se queda un poco a medias: el relato es excesivo, a veces resulta un r铆o demasiado recreado en sus meandros (aunque Dickens es un maestro creando ambientes , personajes y universos paralelos) y determinados personajes y tramas pudieran sobrar, pueden resultar pesados. Hay que tener en cuenta que Grandes Esperanzas apareci贸 durante a帽os como relato por cap铆tulos en un peri贸dico londinense. Y para terminar, el final, aunque veros铆mil,no termina de convencer.
En resumen, a mi modo de ver, no es la mejor de las novelas de Dickens, pero permite disfrutar de todo su universo de figuras y ambientes.
Je n'avais jamais lu Dickens, et j'avoue que j'ai un peu de mal avec ce premier tome (peut-锚tre aussi 脿 cause d'un probl猫me de traduction). Le d茅but est assez intriguant et, comme Pip par la suite, on ressent la pauvre condition et la "grossi猫ret茅" de son entourage. Le tout est men茅 de mani猫re rocambolesque par l'auteur, depuis Miss Havisham en passant par Estrella sans oublier le bon Joe.
Joe est du reste sans doute mon personnage favori.Il est certes peu 茅duqu茅, mais il est vraiment bon et souhaite r茅ellement le mieux pour Pip (quitte 脿 y renoncer pour lui permettre d'avancer dans la vie)
Sur les aventures de Pip, j'avoue avoir 茅galement eu un peu de mal avec la loufoquerie de ses aventures londoniennes et de sa pension. Par ailleurs, j'ignore toujours qui est son bienfaiteur (je ne suis pas persuad茅e que ce soit Miss Havisham). Au final, j'esp猫re plus appr茅ci茅 le tome 2
Ce que j'aime : le personnage de Joe, la terrible soeur de Pip, Estrella
Ce que j'aime moins : un peu trop "loufoque "pour moi, le personnage de Pip que je trouve faible et auquel j'ai du mal 脿 m'attacher
En bref : Un premier tome qui campe l'intrigue et qui nous permet de d茅couvrir Pip
Yet another novel by Dickens I haven't read in ages and it brings back so many memories. Definitely my favourite (at least from the ones I've read of course). All the author's usual tropes are blended beautifully in this one.