Ruth Richardson: "Dickens & the Workhouse: Oliver Twist and the London Poor"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-05-02/ruth-richardson-dickens-workhouse-oliver-twist-and-london-poor
This year marks the bicentennial of Charles Dickens' birth. For decades, scholars have looked to the novelist’s childhood to explain his pre-occupation with reform. One historian claims she has found a clue that stayed hidden for nearly two centuries. The Old Strand Workhouse in London was slated for demolition in 2010 when Ruth Richardson joined the campaign to save the building. It was then that she made a connection others seem to have missed: As a child, Charles Dickens had lived just a few doors down from the workhouse that was probably the inspiration for his novel, Oliver Twist. A discussion about Charles Dickens, the workhouse, and the London poor.
Guests
Ruth Richardson
historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Read An Excerpt
Excerpt: "Dickens and the Workhouse: Oliver Twist and the London Poor" by Ruth Richardson. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press. Copyright 2012 by Ruth Richardson. All rights reserved:
Comments
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England became the world's leading industrial power on the exploitation of its poor, just as China is today.
Ruth Richardson's enthusiasm matches her expertise. Everyone will enjoy this new book "Dickens and the Workhouse: Oliver Twist and the London Poor," but I recommend as well her first book, "Death, Dissection, and the Destitute," about medical students robbing graves to find bodies for anatomy class.
Fascinating, and thoroughly enjoyable program today. .
Question: Do you think someone might organize tours of such valuable historic structures, or could they be added to existing tours of London?
Coincidentally, I just checked out "Hard Times" and the first two chapters are surprisingly funny, it must be satire.
Please talk more about the attitude of the neighbors TODAY with whom you spoke.
Thank you, Cheryl
Holy Crow! Had no idea how many names JK Rowling plucked from Dicken's work for the Harry Potter series - definitely enjoying the interview today!
Even though debtors prisons have been outlawed in the US for a century, there have been numerous reports in the print press of persons being sent to jail for debt. The ACLU has been fighting such court sentences for some time now. Most of those sent to prison are for medical debt and under the contempt of court rules for those who are court ordered to pay off a debt. History is often repeated.
I published an historical novel ---When Ireland Fell Silent--about the Great Irish Famine in 2010, The workhouse was in the story and researched. They were like Prisons for the poor. The aristocratic English notion of the "poor" --whom they called Paupers-- was that they were unworthy, must be immoral and should be kept out of sight and punished. The workhouse program was deliberately cruel and punitive in order to discourage people from entering unless in very desperate straits. --Meals were meager and eaten in silence, punishment very harsh, families separated, etc. The British aristocracy thought you should not give alms to beggars because it would encourage begging. In contrast, the Irish felt you must give as a Christian because "it might be Christ himself." The Irish workhouse conditions were far worse than those in England with even less money. Charles Trevelyan worked hard to keep money in the British Treasury from going to starving Ireland.
Thanks to Pat, formerly with the A-T, who called in to today's show. My wife is from Tiffin, Ohio and Pat's research opened up my own and my wife's research about Dicken's travels through Tiffin, Ohio. Found some lively stories which anyone can appreciate. When I go to Tiffin for Mother's Day, I will mention you. And, if you care to know, the Railroad Station is now a meeting and small party center--quite beautiful.
From this interview, I see some parallels between Charles Dickens and British children's writer, Enid Blyton. First, both were born in London, second, both preferred treating religious issues as private matters despite belonging to organized religion. Both addressed how debt defaulters were treated. For Dickens, this had been borne out of personal experience when his Dad used to go in and out of prison due to this issue (an aspect prevalent in the Oliver Twist novel). Enid Blyton also treated the issue in her novel, The Family At Red Roofs, when Prudence's Dad flees the country in order to avoid arrest for having accumulated debt due to his failed business ventures. Other parallels not covered in the interview include the fact that both writers visited the USA at least once (for Dickens, twice) in their lifetimes.
Stephen Isabirye, author of a book on Enid Blyton, titled, The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage
From this interview, I see some parallels between Charles Dickens and British children's writer, Enid Blyton. First, both were born in London, second, both preferred treating religious issues as private matters despite belonging to organized religion. Both addressed how debt defaulters were treated. For Dickens, this had been borne out of personal experience when his Dad used to go in and out of prison due to this issue (an aspect prevalent in the Oliver Twist novel). Enid Blyton also treated the issue in her novel, The Family At Red Roofs, when Prudence's Dad flees the country in order to avoid arrest for having accumulated debt due to his failed business ventures. Other parallels not covered in the interview include the fact that both writers visited the USA at least once (for Dickens, twice) in their lifetimes
Stephen Isabirye, author of a book on Enid Blyton, titled, The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage