Three libraries and their beneficent overseers head the list of my archival obligations: the Berg Collection of the New York Public Library and its curator, Lola Szladits, the Dickens House Museum in London and its curator, David Parker (who kindly read and made helpful comments on the manuscript), and the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California, and its librarian, Daniel Woodward. At the Dickens House Museum, I was also helped by Eileen Power, and at the Huntington Library by Mary Robertson, Susan Hodson, Alan Jutzi, and Martin Ridge. Other libraries and librarians whose resources and generosity I am thankful for are the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University (Marjorie Wynn), the British Library, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center of the University of Texas (Cathy Henderson), the National Library of Scotland, the Pierpont Morgan Library, the Benoliel Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia (Walter A. Frankel), the Parrish Collection of Princeton University Library (Jean F. Preston and Alexander D. Wainwright), the Sadleir Collection of the University of California at Los Angeles, and the Forster Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. These and other such obligations are further detailed in the citations of sources.
The Editors and Trustees of the Pilgrim Edition of The Letters of Charles Dickens, to whom Mr. Christopher Dickens has turned over the common-law copyright for Dickens’ unpublished letters, have kindly permitted the use of summaries and brief quotations. I am especially indebted to Kathleen Tillotson for her support and cooperation. Graham Storey has kindly conveyed to me this permission on behalf of Christopher Dickens. I am also indebted to R. A. Denniston, the publisher of the Oxford University Press for permission to quote from the published letters.
Personal and professional debts begin to become indistinguishable, probably inseparable, at this point, though one has an institutional presence that allows me to acknowledge here how stimulating and helpful have been my years of participation in the Dickens Project of the University of California at Santa Cruz, and the support of its two directors, Murray Baumgarten and John Jordan, and of Edwin Eigner and my other colleagues there.
My friend and colleague David Kleinbard has contributed to some of the small moments of grace that the book may have by his kind, helpful reading of the manuscript. Rhoda Weyr, who has been the first audience for some of this book, has my warm appreciation for her help. My colleagues at the seminar in biography at New York University made useful suggestions, particularly in regard to the first chapter, and I’m especially indebted to Robert Halsband, Charles Molesworth, and Aileen Ward for their comments. My colleague at the National Humanities Center, Donald Scott, provided me with a helpful Dickens document from the Newton Antiquarian Society archives. Kirk Beetz kindly shared with me some of his wide knowledge of Wilkie Collins’ letters. I owe a debt of appreciation to Kathleen Longley, who allowed me to read and benefit from her unpublished writings on Ellen Ternan and the Ternan family. Jay Williams provided kind words and suggestions throughout.
Georges Borchardt in New York and Richard Simon in London are partly responsible for the excellent editing and production that the book has had under the capable and creative eye of Maria Guarnaschelli of William Morrow and the thoughtful suggestions that were made by John Curtis of Hodder & Stoughton. Amy Edelman of William Morrow has copyedited the manuscript with great competence and intelligence, and she and her colleagues Cheryl Asherman, Susan Halligan, and Dennis Combs have been invaluable. Sylvere Monod, during my stay in Paris, was kind enough, among his many kindnesses, to direct me to Olivier Cohen of Mazarin. Michelle Lepautre graciously brought us together. To Sylvere Monod I also am indebted for introducing me to Janine Watrin, who generously spent a day showing me all the Dickens sites and associations in the area of Condette and Boulogne. Dr. Kenneth Churchill, the cultural attaché at the British Embassy in Paris, put me in touch with his colleague Diana Neill, who graciously took me on a tour of the embassy to indulge my desire to examine the ballroom in which Dickens had given readings. Gloria Kaplan helpfully shared ideas and rendered assistance.
I am indebted, in alphabetical order, to the following people for acts of assistance that directly or indirectly contributed to my work: Laura Maslow Armand, Jerome Badanes, Maggie Blades, Doreen Blake, Charles Blitzer, Martin Blum, Philip Bolton, Charles Carlton, Philip Collins, Sandra Copeland, Mara Lemanis Cunningham, Enid Davey, Wally Davey, Morris Dickstein, Daniel Donno, Elizabeth Donno, Nan Dorsey, Robert Edwards, K. J. Fielding, Ernestine Friedl, Norman Fruman, Regenia Gagnier, Edward Geffner, Elliot Gilbert, Michael Goldberg, Harold Goldwhite, Maria Goldwhite, Mark Greenberg, Robert Greenberg, Vivian Greenberg, Edward Guiliano, Jack Hall, Katie Higby, Robert Higby, Theo Hoppen, Jean Houston, Irving Howe, Lois Hughson, Howard Hughson, Al Hutter, Gerhardt Joseph, Alfred Kazin, Shirley Strum Kenny, Maureen Kleinbard, Uli Knoepflmacher, Barbara Leavy, Peter Leavy, Jean Leuchtenberg, Townshend Luddington, Carol Mackay, Harold Marcus, Steven Marcus, Annie Monod, Linda Morgan, Kent Mulliken, Robert Patten, Gordon Philo, Robert Polehumus, Wayne Pond, Norris Pope, John Reilly, Virginia Renner, James Riddell, Murray Roston, Clyde Ryals, Andrew Sanders, Hilary Schor, Pat Schrieber, Elsa Sink, Michael Slater, Doris Smedes, Harry Stone, James Thorpe, Charles Tolk, Robert Tracy, Allan Tuttle, Rebecca Vargha, Roland Voize, Alexander Welsh, the late Elizabeth Wheeler, and Carl Woodring.
Finally, a Dickensian acknowledgment of a philosophical sort, my expression of appreciation to that long list of people who have been helpful and kind to me. It has not been more than I deserve, to paraphrase and reverse Coleridge’s sad comment. But it is a marvel to be savored and appreciated—how many people, despite the problems of life and time, generously help those who ask.
Index
Adams, John Quincy: insulted by Dickens, 135
Adelphi Theatre, 243
Administrative Reform Society, 330–31, 477
Agassiz, Louis, 516–17
Ainsworth, William Harrison, 17, 86, 98, 103, 109, 113, 226; meets Dickens, 72–73; helps Dickens with Bentley, 100; is dropped from Trio Club, 110; distance from Dickens of, 275
Albaro (Italy), 171, 173
Albert, Prince, 110, 127, 137, 333, 447; Dickens performs before, 280, 365; arrives at Boulogne, 312
Albion, The, 62
Albion Villas, no. 3, Folkestone, 336
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll), 240
Allen, Mary (aunt), 22, 25, 28, 31
All the Year Round, 18, 48, 425, 437–38, 440, 442–43, 461, 467–68, 477, 488–91, 496–97, 501, 526, 530–31 542–43, 545, 553; creation of, 400–401; Tale of Two Cities published in, 414–15; Dickens rescues circulation of, 429–33
Alphington, Dickens’ parents exiled to, 105
Amateurs and Actors (theatrical), 56
amateur theatricals, 175, 192–93, 220–33, 235–37, 262, 279–82, 284–87, 318–22, 347, 357–59, 363, 366–67, 369, 496, 553
America, 122–38, 140–44, 147, 150, 152–57, 162, 168–70, 172, 176, 183, 277, 368, 397, 402, 408, 412–14, 422, 480–81, 483–84, 488, 491, 493, 502, 504–5, 507–23, 525–29, 534, 549–550
Andersen, Hans Christian: meets Dickens, 350; visits Gad’s Hill, 363–65
animal magnetism, see mesmerism
Arras, 464, 466
Ashford, 336
Ashley, Lord (Shaftesbury), 144–45, 446
Astor Place riots, 277
Atalanta (Frank Talfourd), 368
Athenaeum (club), III, 332, 453, 486, 529
Atkins, Catherine (Mrs. William Charles Macready), 90, 150, 210, 276
Augusta, Princess, 43
Austin, Amelia, 56
Austin, Henry, 259, 286, 324, 348, 360; meets Dickens, 56–57; is active in sanitary reform, 262; supervises Tavistock renovations, 269–70; death of, 445–46
Australia, 229, 251–52, 257, 260, 268, 282, 412, 423, 464, 467, 497, 531, 544; Dickens considers visiting, 448–50
Babbage, Charles, 269
Ball, Elizabeth (Mrs. William Dickens) (grandmother), see Dickens, Elizabeth Ball
Ballads and Other Poems (Longfellow), 132
Balmoral House (Regent’s Park), 270
Baltimore, 134–37, 521, 523
Balzac, Honoré de, 354
Bardell-versus-Pickwick trial, 89
Baring Brothers, 335, 346
Barker, Fordyce, 520, 527–28
Barrett, Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Browning), 268, 342; criticizes Dickens’ intellect, 201; sympathizes with Catherine, 394
Barrow, Charles (grandfather), 21, 41
Barrow, Edward (uncle), 104
Barrow, Thomas (uncle), 35–36
Bartley, George, 54–55
Bath, 153, 216, 280
Bayham Street, no. 16, Camden Town, 33
Beadnell, George, 51, 272, 323, 463
Beadnell, Maria, 62, 64, 67, 94, 254, 272, 323–24, 329, 334, 344, 393, 436, 463; Dickens falls in love with, 50–51; rejects Dickens, 52–54; renews contact with Dickens, 325–27; is satirized, 327
Beard, Frank, 455; as physician to Dickens, 539–41; as attendant doctor at readings, 547–48; attends funeral, 555–56
Beard, Thomas, 57, 60, 196, 275–76, 288, 317, 322, 418, 424, 450, 484; meets Dickens, 52; as reporter, 53
Beaucourt, Ferdinand, 311–12, 465
Beckett, Gilbert Abbott à: attends reading of Chimes, 179; death of, 351
Beecher, Ward, 521
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 36, 66
Beggar’s Opera, The (Gay), 75
Bell’s Weekly Magazine, 62
Bentham, Jeremy, 305
Bentinck Street, no. 18, 53, 56, 58
Bentley, Richard, 98–103, 117, 169, 333–34, 365, 380, 505
Bentley’s Miscellany, 89, 93, 99, 101–3, 117, 193, 265–66, 401
Berners Street, no. 31, 408–9
Bible, 175, 233, 435, 473
Bibliotheque Royale, 219
Birmingham, 61, 137, 159, 166, 235–37, 281, 298, 304, 319–23, 381, 448, 547, 551
Birmingham and Midland Institute, 304, 544, 547
Black, John, 63, 100
Black-eyed Susan (Jerrold), 363
Blackmore, Edward, employs Dickens, 47
Blackpool, 538–39
Blanchard, Samuel Laman, 179, 191
Blessington, Countess of, 193, 197, 203–4, 220, 274, 350
Blundeston, 242
Board for Sanitary Reform, 262–63
Bologna, 178
Bonchurch, Dickens spends summer at, 246–48, 452, 455
Book of Common Prayer, 175
Boston, 123–24, 126–27, 129–32, 134, 137, 143, 152, 510, 514–18, 520, 523–24, 526–27, 529
Boulogne, 170, 285–86, 288, 308, 310–14, 317, 319, 325, 341, 346, 349, 350, 465–66
Bouncer, Mrs. (dog), 463
Boyle, Mary, 340, 350, 393, 412, 435, 517; meets Dickens, 278; acts with Dickens, 278–79; Dickens flirts with, 325; meets Dickens at Rockingham, 337
Boz, origin as pseudonym, 63
Boz Ball (New York), 126
Bradbury, William, 169, 197, 201, 388
Bradbury and Evans, 179, 196, 201, 206, 242, 244, 263, 266, 269, 286, 348, 372; becomes Dickens’ publisher, 169–70; employs Dickens as Daily News editor, 193–94; Dickens punishes, 398–401
Braham, John, 75–76, 92
Bridgman, Laura, 144, 152
Brighton, 108, 191, 242–43, 287, 361, 395, 447, 551
Bristol, 61, 236, 280, 381
Britannia (ship), 122–23, 126, 130, 142, 168–69
British Embassy, Paris, 464, 468
British Museum, 49–50, 270
British Press (newspaper), 49
Broad Grins (Coleman), 35
Broadstairs, 108, 151, 163–64, 191, 231, 239, 244, 247–48, 256, 270, 286, 440
Brook, The (Chatham), 25–26
Brookfield, Jane, 212, 402
Brooks, Shirley, 350, 451
Brown, Anne (Mrs. Anne Cornelius): accompanies Dickenses to America, 129
Brown, Hannah Meredith, see Meredith, Hannah
Brown, William, 337
Browne, Hablot Knight, 113, 226–27, 244, 288, 451, 469; becomes Dickens’ illustrator, 80–81; travels with Dickens, 116–17; collaboration with Dickens ends, 469
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, see Barrett, Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Browning)
Browning, Robert, 88, 192, 203, 342
Bryant, William Cullen, 132–33, 519; works: “Thanatopsis,” 132
Buckstone, John Baldwin, 367, 369, 379, 408; works: Uncle John, 367
Bull Hotel (Preston), 306
Bull Inn (Rochester), 239
Bulwer, Edward (Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton), 88, 108, III, 128, 170, 231, 274, 277, 280–83, 433, 437, 449, 491, 503–4, 537; meets Dickens, 86; collaborates with Macready and Forster, 234–36; Dickens’ opinion of, 279; contribution to Great Expectations, 449; works: The Duchess de la Vallière, 234; The Lady of Lyons, 108, 234; Money, 234; Not So Bad as We Seem, 280–81, 283; A Strange Story, 437, 442
Bunn, Alfred, 112
Burdett, Francis, 147
Burlington House, 552
Burnett, Henry, 159; as singer, 92; marries Letitia Dickens, 105; mourns death of wife, 238
Burnett, Henry Augustus, Jr., 159, 215, 239
Burns, Robert, 66
Bury Saint Edmunds, 61, 447
Buss, Robert, 80
Cairo (Illinois), 137
Calcutta, 457, 498
Cambridge (England), 498, 544, 555
Cambridge (Massachusetts), 517, 519
Canada, 130, 138–39, 193, 231
cannibalism, 29, 352–53, 355
Canterbury, 285, 447, 543
capital punishment, 477–78
Captain Bobadil, 192
Captain Murderer, 30
Carlton Chronicle, 100
Carlyle, Jane: relationship with Francis Jeffrey, 114; dances with Forster, 156; wanted by Dickens to hear Chimes reading, 177–80; attends performance, 193; attends Dickens dinner party, 244
Carlyle, Thomas, 17, 88, 244, 274, 464, 517, 536, 551; meets Dickens, 91; relationship with Jeffrey, 114; Hard Times dedicated to, 308; Dickens’ opinion of, 309; Dickens borrows books from, 414–15; attitude toward reform, 477; on Eyre committee, 481; criticizes Dickens’ greed, 511; works: French Revolution, 415; Past and Present, 177
Carrick Fell (Cumberland), 373
Castle of Chill on, 209
Cavendish, William George (Duke of Devonshire), 193–94, 280
Cavour, Camillo, 182, 480
Cerberus Club, 110, 112
Cervantes, Miguel de, 26
Chadwick, Edwin, 262–63
Chalk cottage, 107
Chambers, Amelia, 491
Chambers, Janet (Mrs. William Henry Wills), 276, 491; marries Wills, 265; performs in Frozen Deep, 350, 356
Chambers, Robert, 491
Chambers’s Encyclopaedia, 491
Chamonix, Dickens visits, 209, 293
Champs-Élysées, no. 49, 328 462
Chapman, Edward, 113, 118; idea for Pickwick Papers, 77–78
Chapman, Frederic, 401, 431
Chapman and Hall, 102, 104, 117, 124, 169–70, 175, 194, 206–7, 222, 431–31, 468, 514, 540, 545; publishes Pickwick Papers, 77–83; proposes sequel, 97–98; becomes Dickens’ sole publisher, 118; Dickens furious at, 157–58; Dickens breaks with, 169–70; becomes Dickens’ publisher again, 400–401;
Chappell, Arthur, 506
Chappell, Thomas, 506
Chappells (theatrical management firm), 506, 509, 510–11, 514–15, 527, 540–41
Charles at Tunbridge (Forster), 87
Charlton, Elizabeth, 47
Chateaubriand, François René de, 219
Chatham, 34–35, 45, 49, 71, 239, 258, 320, 357, 414, 420, 495, 517; Dickens’ early years in, 22–24; departure from, 32–33
Chat of the Week (weekly), 77
Chatsworth, 194, 280
&nb
sp; Chelmsford, 61
Cheltenham, 484, 533
Chesney Wold (Rockingham), 287
Chester, Dickens reads at, 539–40
Chester Place, no. 1, Regent’s Park, 223
Chesterton, 228
Chips, the devil-rat, 30–31, 83, 215
Chisholm, Catherine, 287
Chitty, Thomas, 87
Chorley, Henry: as intimate of Dickens family, 490–91; as a host, 499
Christ in the Carpenter Shop (Millais), 354
Cincinnati, 137–38
Civil War, American, 480
Civita vecchia, Italy, 296
Clari, or, The Maid of Milan (theatrical), 56
Clarke, Charles Cowden, 236
Clarke, Mary Cowden, performs in amateur theatricals, 236–37
Clay, Henry, 135
Clifton, 280
Clow, Joseph, 487
Cobham woods, 307, 346, 554
Colburn, Eliza (Mrs. John Forster), 316–17
Colburn, Henry, 98, 316
Colchester, 61, 447
Coldbath Fields prison, 65
Colden, David, 132, 153, 164, 191
Colden, Frances (Mrs. David Colden), 325; Dickens falls in love with, 132; Dickens’ relationship with, 164–65
Coleman, George, 35
Collier, John Payne, 111
Collins, Charles Alston, 283, 453, 456, 487, 496, 546; marries Katie Dickens, 418–19; is seriously ill, 421, 531; collapse of marriage of, 428; is living abroad, 451; is guilty of “infamy,” 498; describes Prince of Wales, 499; Dickens’ hatred of, 499; at Dickens’ funeral, 556
Collins, Harriet, 283, 413, 419, 421, 441–42, 451, 487
Collins, Wilkie, 17, 283–85, 312–14, 329, 336, 339, 345, 356, 359, 361, 370, 379–80, 383, 397, 404, 427, 429–32, 451, 456, 463, 471, 478, 491, 499, 504, 512–14, 530 536, 556; is introduced to Dickens, 287–93; becomes an intimate friend, 294–98; visits at Boulogne, 310; acts in amateur theatricals, 319–22; visits Paris with Dickens, 333–34, 341; works on Frozen Deep, 350, 352; holidays with Dickens in Cumberland, 373–74; Dickens confides in, 391; supports Yates, 413; attends Katie’s wedding, 418–20; collaborates with Dickens, 437–38, 441–43; eulogizes Thackeray, 454; ill health of, 486; relationship with Caroline Graves, 487–89; works: Basil, 285, 287; The Diary of Anne Rodway, 341; The Frozen Deep, 356, 365–67, 369, 382, 456, 549; The Lighthouse, 321–22, 336; The Moonstone, 488; No Name, 442; “A Terribly Strange Bed,” 284; The Woman in White, 429, 440, 441–42, 487; characters (Frozen Deep): Frank Aldersley, 356; Clara Burnham, 356, 369; Lieutenant Crayford, 356; Lucy Crayford, 356, 367, 369; Nurse Esther, 356, 369; Richard Wardour, 356, 359, 363, 365