The library will celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Dickens in 2012 with a book discussion series featuring his works. Discussions will be free and open to the public, and copies of the books will be available to borrow from the library in advance. We will discuss:
The Pickwick Papers on Monday, January 16;
David Copperfield on Monday, February 20;
Bleak House on Monday, March 19; and
Great Expectations on Monday, April 16.
Born February 7, 1812, Charles Dickens was one of the most famous and popular writers of the Victorian era. His first novel, The Pickwick Papers, became a popular phenomenon while still being published as a monthly serial, firmly establishing his career as an author. He would go on to write some of the best-known novels in English literature, including those mentioned above as well as such works as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. His books are characterized by colorful characters, elegant prose, complex plots, and engagement with social issues.
The bicentennial of his birth is an opportunity to reflect on Dickens's lasting contribution to English literature and his continued popularity with readers after two hundred years. It will be marked by events, exhibits, and readings around the country, including the release of a new movie version of Great Expectations with Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham and Ralph Fiennes as Abel Magwiitch.
