Re: Wemmick's Castle
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Wed, 4 Mar 1998 09:30:37 -0100
My dear Mr Langlais,
In the 1820s there were a number of extraordinarily fanciful little wooden
cottages in the back areas of Walworth, which I remember from my childhood
rambles in those regions. Some years later, moreover, the Surrey Zoological
Gardens were constructed in the vicinity. Among the many marvels to be
found there, was a proliferation of buildings in the purest gothic taste,
castles not excluded. I remember particularly a miniature gothic hermitage,
which would have challenged the ingenuity of a tall man wishing to lie down.
Wemmick's castle was a child of my imagination, but suspicion falls upon a
number of possible fathers.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
________________________________________________________________________________
>Dear Mr. Dickens,
>
>I understand that, like most author's, you base descriptions of
>places and people on real life locations and persons you have met.
>
>I was wondering if the description of Wemmick's quaint little
>castle-style home in Great Expectations was based on anything that
>actually existed and, if so, what?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Sincerely
>T Langlais
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author