Charles Dickens

As you might or mightn’t know, Project Gutenberg etexts are all issued a distinct number, counting up from their very first, etext #1, the US Declaration of Independence.

Just for the fun of it, I looked up what etext #1414 is: Somebody’s Luggage by Charles Dickens, from 1862. Here’s the first paragraph of Chapter I: “His Leaving It Till Called For” —

The writer of these humble lines being a Waiter, and having come of a family of Waiters, and owning at the present time five brothers who are all Waiters, and likewise an only sister who is a Waitress, would wish to offer a few words respecting his calling; first having the pleasure of hereby in a friendly manner offering the Dedication of the same unto Joseph, much respected Head Waiter at the Slamjam Coffee-house, London, E.C., than which a individual more eminently deserving of the name of man, or a more amenable honour to his own head and heart, whether considered in the light of a Waiter or regarded as a human being, do not exist.

Any story with the “Slamjam Coffee-house, London” in it must be worth a read. :)

I’m all for realism in fiction when it’s appropriate, but a quote in a BBC News article, Literature’s love affair with the mind, is a bit wonky.

The article covers how writers have represented mental illness in fiction, both accurately and (more often) inaccurately. So far, so good. But check out what Marjorie Wallace, the executive of some mental health charity, had to say:

‘If you look at our most famous writers, many of them tackled madness and failed. Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare all have characters who are troubled but it is never explained.’

Is it William Shakespeare’s job to explain the technical details of what makes his Dane melancholy? Apparently so.

She next takes Jane Eyre to task, then had to say about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:

‘The idea that some can deliberately change their personality like that, has made people think they are to blame. It has been very damaging.’

She isn’t seriously blaming Jekyll and Hyde for people’s misconception of mental illness, is she?

I’m sorry to say that yes, she is. A very depressing attitude.