Re: Podsnap
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Wed, 5 Feb 1997 15:27:58 -0100
My dear Mr Stewart,
You could have come across the word "Podsnappery" in
"Our Mutual Friend." It is the title I gave to the eleventh
chapter of the first book. In the first few paragraphs of
that chapter, I set the wares of Podsnappery before the
reader. Let me remind you of the very first paragraph:
Mr Podsnap was well to do, and stood very high
in Mr Podsnap's opinion. Beginning with a good
inheritance, he had married a good inheritance,
and had thriven exceedingly in the Marine Insurance
way, and was quite satisfied. He never could make
out why everybody was not quite satisfied, and he
felt conscious that he set a brilliant social
example in being particularly well satisfied with
most things, and, above all other things, with
himself.
There you have distilled essence of Podsnappery.
Needless to say, I was flattered and honoured to see my
word enter the common vocabulary.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
____________________________________________________________________________
___ > Mr. Dickens,
> Mr. John Podsnap as descibed in Our Mutual Friend appears to be a
>pompous character. The word PODSNAPERY has been used to describe aspects of
>Victorian life and I came across the word not to long ago in a news magazine
>. Could you elaborate on the meaning and the modern use of the term.
>Thank You,
>Bill Stewart
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author