Victorianists in the NY-NJ-CT area will be interested in the link below to the New York Public Library's upcoming Dickens exhibition.
The exhibition is accompanied by a free lecture series in the South Court auditorium adjoining the gallery:
Wednesday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m.
(also Thursday, November 29 at 1:15 p.m.; Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.)
“Dickens and the Language of Images”
Wm. Moeck
Nassau Community College (SUNY)
Dickens’s emblematic character descriptions are explored in a slideshow presentation by the exhibition curator.
Wednesday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.
“Dickens and London”
Anne Humpherys
Lehman College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)
The growth of London and the human costs of modernization are seen reflected in novels such as Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, and Bleak House.
Friday, October 12 at 1:15 p.m.
(also Friday, December 14 at 1:15 p.m.)
“Out of the Blacking Factory”
Robert Armitage
Humanities Bibliographer, General Research Division
This presentation examines various aspects of Dickens’s life, the broad range of his fiction, and its various illustrators.
Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m.
“A Tale of Two Cities: Love, Sex, Imprisonment”
Carolyn Williams
Rutgers University
This talk considers Dickens’s fascination with prisons—and with mistress Ellen Ternan—as backgrounds for A Tale of Two Cities.
Tuesday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m.
“Dickens’s Prompt Texts”
Isaac Gewirtz, Curator
Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
From his novels Dickens created unique prompt texts with which he performed on stage to great acclaim, and which now belong to the Berg Collection.
Tuesday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m.
“The Worst Dickens Ever: Our Mutual Friend”
Sean Grass
Iowa State University
This presentation explains why Henry James—and those who have hated Our Mutual Friend since—have it all wrong.
Wednesday, November 14 at 6:00 p.m.
“The Twists of Oliver Twist”
Catherine Robson
New York University
The plot contortions of this famous novel are discussed in relation to three culturally symbolic sites.
Wednesday, November 28 at 6:00 p.m.
“David Copperfield and Dickensian Character”
Jonathan Farina
Seton Hall University
This talk playfully catalogs Dickens's many distinct styles of characterization in his most autobiographical novel.
Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m.
“Theater and the Politics of Style in Great Expectations”
David Kurnick
Rutgers University
This talk considers the relations among Dickens’s singular style, his interest in popular performance, and his democratic imagination.
Wednesday, December 12 at
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
“Dickens, Scrooge and Autobiography”
Gerhard Joseph
Lehman College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)
A Christmas Carol is discussed as a cautionary tale showing the kind of person that Dickens—haunted by childhood misery—might have become.
Tuesday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m.
“Dickens and the Criminal Mind”
Kristin Le Veness
Nassau Community College (SUNY)
Dickens’s most notorious villains are discussed in relation to his dedication to realism and social reform.