Nicholas Nickleby (and my cat)
I read Nicholas Nickleby when I was about sixteen, and so to launch my Dickens Challenge, thought I’d start off by running through it again. I’m glad I did, as I had it in my head Nicholas was at the awful Dotheboy’s Hall school under Wackford Squeers for at least half the book. I then thought he was gallivanting about in the theatre for the second half. Neither of these are true. I also thought it would be a quick run-through, but my edition comes in two volumes, both 500 pages each, so quick aint the right word. There is also a character who had such an impression on me due to his job title, my memory gave him quite a large role, and not just a sentence as a brother to a woman who once worked with Nicholas’ sister. He is Mortimer Knag, ‘ornamental stationer and small circulating library keeper’. I wanted that job when I was sixteen, and I want it now.
Today I started the second volume. I like these books as they have bizarre illustrations, where everyone who is not a Nickleby has a huge head.
And my cat, Violet, likes these books as she really enjoys a ribbon bookmark.
I think I might give that a good clawing and chewing.
Assume evil-kill-face.
Me? I wasn’t doing anything! How DARE you accuse me.
Lucy
Sarah
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