Haven’t read any Dickens for a while, not since Hard Times almost five years ago to be exact and this was the second time that I attempted this particular tome.
The first time, I just couldn’t get into it. I found it wordy and the characters didn’t hold together for me. I lost interest, got confused and it came to an abrupt halt.
This time, I still found it a bit tedious but managed to get over the hump, pass the place that I fell at last time and sail through to the end. Some great readers on Librivox helped.
Was it worth it. Yeah, but this is nothing like Great Expectations or David Copperfield. The story revolves around a case of mistaken identity, inheritances passing to the wrong people and everyone out for all they can grab. Along the way, this brings everyone’s true natures to the surface which the obvious characters appearing.
There were a couple of twists which you normally expect from reading Dickens. But these were constructed less skilfully than I expected from the genius. I enjoyed it, but this is not his greatest work.
| OPENING LINE |
In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in.
|
| 99TH PAGE QUOTE |
This far into the book, some of the plot might be revealed. If you want to see the quote, click show
After a little more walking and a little more silence, Mr Lammle breaks the latter.
‘You shall proceed in your own way. You claim a right to ask me do I mean to tell you. Do I mean to tell you what?’
‘That you are a man of property?’
‘No.’
‘Then you married me on false pretences?’
‘So be it. Next comes what you mean to say. Do you mean to say you are a woman of property?’
‘No.’
‘Then you married me on false pretences.’
‘If you were so dull a fortune-hunter that you deceived yourself, or if you were so greedy and grasping that you were over-willing to be deceived by appearances, is it my fault, you adventurer?’ the lady demands, with great asperity.
‘I asked Veneering, and he told me you were rich.’
‘Veneering!’ with great contempt.’ And what does Veneering know about me!’
‘Was he not your trustee?’
‘No. I have no trustee, but the one you saw on the day when you fraudulently married me. And his trust is not a very difficult one, for it is only an annuity of a hundred and fifteen pounds. I think there are some odd shillings or pence, if you are very particular.’
Mr Lammle bestows a by no means loving look upon the partner of his joys and sorrows, and he mutters something; but checks himself.
|
| CLOSING LINE |
This might reveal the ending. If you want to see the quote, click [spoiler]I remember with devout thankfulness that I can never be much nearer parting company with my readers for ever, than I was then, until there shall be written against my life, the two words with which I have this day closed this book:—THE END.[/spoiler]
|
RATING
Key: Legacy | Plot / toPic | Characterisation / faCts | Readability | Achievement | Style Read more about how I come up with my ratings
