London 30 August : A collection of English writer Charles Dickens letters that have been unpublished and unseen for a long time will be on display in the first time this Wednesday.The letters contain a variety of invitation notes as well as details about the writer’s writing habits and reading habits as well as details of travel plans to Switzerland sent to a friend the dpa news agency reported on Tuesday.
In a letter sent on the 10th of February, 1866 Dickens is regarded as the most famous novelist of the Victorian period is also displeased with the demise of the Sunday postal service and threatens to relocate from his home.
He writes: “I beg to say that I firmly and strongly oppose the imposition of any inconvenience to myself.
“There are many in the village of Higham likely, who don’t get or send in an entire year the same number of letters I normally receive and then dispatch in one day.I am on good relationship with my neighbors, both rich and poor and I am sure they would be terribly disappointed to lose me.
“But I’d be so restricted with the restriction proposed that I believe it will force me sell my property here and then leave this region of the country.”
These letters belong to the more than 300 items purchased by the Charles Dickens Museum from an American collector in 2020.This includes personal items, portraits, sketches, playbills, and even books.
The whole collection valued at 1.8 million pounds ($2.1 million) was gathered by the museum with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Friends of the National Libraries and the Dickens Fellowship.
Emily Dunbar, curator at the Charles Dickens Museum, said: “One of the best aspects of the collection of letters is that it reveals Dickens writing in his 30s 40s, 50s and 30s as well as the wide range of topics that were on his thoughts.
“The note complaining of the demise of Sunday delivery of the post is a perfect illustration of Dickens showing his self-importance and recognizing his immense fame and place in society rising to the forefront.
“He also cites the massive amount of letters that have left and arrived at his home, of which this is a tiny , but entertaining portion.”
The author of some of the most famous fictional characters, Dickens wrote many classics including the most well-known “Oliver Twist”, “A Christmas Carol” and “David Copperfield”.
The exhibit will be up for display at the Charles Dickens Museum and online starting on Wednesday.
