Re: tale of two cities
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Fri, 2 May 1997 15:07:07 -0100
My dear Miss Penley,
You confront me with problems not easily solved.
Specific questions about specific details would
offer me toe holds. As it is, I have to climb a
glass mountain.
Perhaps I should suggest some general strategies
for you. When you find the plot of a novel obscure,
look it up in a reference book. The editor of the "Oxford
Companion to English Literature" flatteringly included
entries on most of the Inimitable's works, not excluding
"A Tale of Two Cities." Or you could try one of the
specialised reference books devoted, even more flatteringly,
to the Inimitable. "The Dickens Index" is spoken well of,
edited by Mr Bentley, Mr Slater, and Miss Burgis. I venture
to suppose you will be able to find one of these in a
library close to your home.
When you find language troubling, in works of literature
of an earlier age, you can rarely do better than consult
a good dictionary. And I mean a very good dictionary -
ideally the complete Oxford English Dictionary, all twelve
volumes of it, completed in 1928. You may have trouble
finding this Leviathan. If so there is a useful specialised
volume called "A Dickens Glossary," by Mr Levit, published
in 1990. The Inimitable is stunned that his works should
call for a glossary, but bows meekly to the Fates, and
utters not one word of protest.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
________________________________________________________________________________
>Dear Mr. Dickens,
> I am a high school freshman and was assigned to read A Tale of Two
>Cities in my European History class. So far it has been quite a challange.
> I am having a little trouble reading it on my own and understanding the plot
>and some of the language, so I thought, who better to get help from than the
>author? Please email me at CIA164@aol.com if you are willing to help.
>
>Sincerely,
>Sarah Penley
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author