Re: Dickens
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Fri, 1 May 1998 12:00:55 -0100
My dear Miss Emily,
There was no sense of obligation compelling me to write "A Tale of Two
Cities." I was, so to speak, pushed from behind, rather than pulled from in
front. "The Frozen Deep," and especially the death of Richard Wardour who
sacrifices himself to rescue the fiancee of the woman he loves, inspired in
me an interest in self-sacrifice. This was the stronger because, at the
time, I felt I could serve Miss Ternan, to whom I was deeply devoted, only
by sacrificing my own inclinations. Mr Carlyle's book on the French
Revolution comes into the picture because of my conviction, at the time,
that unless the plight of the dispossessed in England were heeded, it too
might succumb to the horrors of revolution.
Having written the book, I felt less that I had fulfilled a desire, more
that I had unburdened myself of thoughts and feelings best shared.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
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>A Tale of Two Cities was written based on three circumstances which are a
book about the French Revolution, a play called the Frozen Deep, and a
secret love for Ellen Turnan. Did you feel as if you had an obligation to
write this book, and when you wrote it did you feel like you had fulfilled a
desire?
>Thank you for your time in answering this question.
>Sincerely, Emily R.
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Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author