The ghost story that Charles Dickens tells Mekitty in A Tale of Two Hittys is based on a real event. Click on the link to read Chapter 2 first, if you haven’t already done so. My ghost story was inspired by a letter which Charles Dickens wrote to Wilkie Collins, a fellow author and the brother of his son-in-law, Charles Collins, on Wednesday, October 24th, 1860. In my version, I pushed the timeline to December of the same year. I also elaborated on some of the details and changed the dialog to make the story more understandable and accessible to modern readers. Original letter from Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins:…
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On Dickens’ Desk
A famous painting showing the library at Gad’s Hill Place (see above and below) was named The Empty Chair by the artist, Sir Luke Fildes. Painted in June 1870, shortly after Dickens’ death, the painting conveys the sense of loss felt by Dickens’ friends and family, as well as his readers all around the world. But the painting is also a snapshot in time, preserving for posterity a full-color view (in an era of black and white photos) of Dickens’ library and all its contents. Below is the complete version of the painting. The original desk and chair now reside at the Charles Dickens Museum in London at 48 Doughty…
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The Mighty Quill Pen
What type of pen do you use to write a letter to friend? Do you prefer a ballpoint, a fountain pen, a gel pen, or a Sharpie? During the Victorian era of Charles Dickens, most people used quill ink pens made from goose, turkey or crow feathers. In fact, the word pen comes from the Latin word “penna” which means feather. Quill pens were not very durable, and the nib (the part that you dip into the ink) frequently had to be re-cut with a pen knife. Also, an inkwell was a necessity, as well as a pen wipe to keep the tip clean. From Wikipedia, I learned that quills…
