By: Samantha Silva
Libby audiobook 8 hours
Read by: Euan Morton
Published: 2017
Genre: historical fiction
This is a very well-written book but I struggled to fully enjoy it for two reasons.
One, because it is fiction yet based closely on Dickens' actual life, I almost wished I'd just gotten a biography instead. I enjoy Dickens' writing and know a little about him as a person, but found myself wondering about the truth of his life and marriage.
Two, the idea of someone coming out of poverty (which I know about Dickens' childhood), allowing extravagant spending by his wife and hangers-on . . . was distressing. The author makes it seem as though Charles Dickens underwent a transformation just like his character Ebeneezer Scrooge, but profligate spending just isn't smart. Being parsimonious isn't desirable either, but that aspect of the story just really bugged me.
Oh! There was another irritant for me. Was Dickens faithful to his wife or did he have a wandering eye? Again, this goes back to separating the fact from the fiction.
I'm pretty sure this book is the basis for the Dickens movie we watched a few years ago. (Nope. I had to look it up. The Man Who Invented Christmas was based on someone else's book in a similar vein.)
Now on to what I loved about it!
The way the author weaves in details about ghosts, names of characters, the theatre, book stores, plagiarism, etc. was masterful. This is a very well-crafted story and Morton's vocal work was excellent. I really did enjoy listening to the book, but I think I need to read a biography now . . .
