1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910462257703321

Autore

Slater Michael

Titolo

The great Charles Dickens scandal [[electronic resource] /] / Michael Slater

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven, : Yale University Press, c2012

ISBN

1-283-59683-0

9786613909282

0-300-14231-5

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (224 p.)

Disciplina

823/.8

B

Soggetti

Scandals - England - London - History - 19th century

Novelists, English - 19th century

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Prologue Dickens in 1857 -- 1. 1858: Enter rumour -- 2. 1859-1928: Keeping up appearances -- 3. 1928-1930: Coming to the boil -- 4. 1934-1938: Boiling over -- 5. 1939: His daughter's voice -- 6. 1941-1958: Enter the scholars -- 7. 1959-1966: The amateur contribution -- 8. What Gladys knew: the Storey Papers -- 9. Nelly visible -- Epilogue: Will we ever know? -- Appendix 1: Dickens's Personal Statement, 1858 -- Appendix 2: The 'Violated Letter' -- Who's Who -- Select bibliography -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

Charles Dickens was regarded as the great proponent of hearth and home in Victorian Britain, but in 1858 this image was nearly shattered. With the breakup of his marriage that year, rumors of a scandalous relationship he may have conducted with the young actress Ellen "Nelly" Ternan flourished. For the remaining twelve years of his life, Dickens managed to contain the gossip. After his death, surviving family members did the same. But when the author's last living son died in 1934, there was no one to discourage rampant speculation. Dramatic revelations came from every corner-over Nelly's role as Dickens's



mistress, their clandestine meetings, and even about his possibly fathering an illegitimate child by her. This book presents the most complete account of the scandal and ensuing cover-up ever published. Drawing on the author's letters and other archival sources not previously available, Dickens scholar Michael Slater investigates what Dickens did or may have done, then traces the way the scandal was elaborated over succeeding generations. Slater shows how various writers concocted outlandish yet plausible theories while newspapers and book publishers vied for sensational revelations. With its tale of intrigue and a cast of well-known figures from Thackeray and Shaw to Orwell and Edmund Wilson, this engaging book will delight not only Dickens fans but also readers who appreciate tales of mystery, cover-up, and clever detection.