“Dickens and London” Opens to Celebrate 200 Years Since Author’s Birth

An exhibition celebrating 200 years since the birth of Charles Dickens will open on 9th December 2011 at the Museum of London.

The display will include a specially-commissioned film, ‘The Houseless Shadow’, by William Raban – a documentary filmmaker. It will explore the continuities between London after dark as it is now, compared with how it was described by Charles Dickens over 150 years ago.

Key objects on display during the exhibition will include:

  • Dickens’ writing desk and chair;
  • The only surviving costume of the famous clown, Grimaldi;
  • Dickens’ bank ledger;
  • Luke Fildes’ painting Applicants for admission to a casual ward;
  • Excavated items from Jacob’s Island;
  • Manuscript pages describing the East End opium den featured in Dickens’ last, unfinished novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood and William Powell Frith’s celebrated portrait of Dickens, both lent by the V&A.

Alex Werner, Head of History Collections at the Museum of London and lead curator of Dickens and London, said:

“Dickens is the first author to describe the modern city of the 19th century and its profound impact on society and, in particular, on ordinary people. London was Dickens inspiration. He knew its alleys and streets better than anyone. His writings remain relevant today especially for the rapidly developing mega-cities around the world today, which face many of the problems and challenges that impacted on Victorian London 150 years ago.”

Charles Dickens is famed for his portrayal of poverty and destitution in industrial-era London. Many of his stories were originally serialised and published in magazines.

Dickens and London opens at the Museum of London on 9 December 2011 and runs until 10 June 2012. Ticket will go on sale from July 22nd. Adult £8 (£7 advance booking) Child/concession £6 (£5 advance booking) Under 5s FREE. Friends of the Museum FREE. The Museums are open daily 10am – 6pm and are FREE to all. Museum of London, 150, London Wall EC2Y 5HN.

Images © Museum of London


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