On Charles Dickens as “sentimental, theatrical, moralistic, and controlling” (Zadie Smith) — and the end of “Our Mutual Friend”. #111Words #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend #Novels #TheNewYorker #ZadieSmith #Sentimentality #Theatricality #Moralism #Controlling #Paranoia https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/08/on-charles-dickens-as-sentimental.html

Don Quixote in Charles Dickens’s “Our Mutual Friend” (1865). #111Words #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend #DonQuixote #DonQuijote #MiguelDeCervantes #DanielDefoe #RobinsonCrusoe #DavidCopperfield https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/08/don-quixote-in-charles-dickenss-our.html

“The property of strangers” in Charles Dickens’s “Our Mutual Friend” (1865) and “the kindness of strangers” in Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1947). #111Words #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend #BellaWilfer #TennesseeWilliams #BlancheDuBois https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-property-of-strangers-in-charles.html

“Thingummies”, “whatdoyoucallums”, and “whatshisnames” in Charles Dickens’s “Our Mutual Friend” (1865). #111Words #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend #DombeyAndSon #Thingummy #WhatDoYouCallUm #WhatsHisName #Fiction #OED https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/07/thingummies-whatdoyoucallums-and.html

“Gaslight” in the novels of Charles Dickens, especially “Our Mutual Friend” (1865). #111Words #CharlesDickens #Gaslight #MartinChuzzlewit #HardTimes #LittleDorrit #OurMutualFriend #Literature #Technology https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/07/gaslight-in-novels-of-charles-dickens.html

“Negatived” in Charles Dicken’s “Little Dorrit” (1857) and “Our Mutual Friend” (1865). #111Words #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend #LittleDorrit #Negatived #RecencyIllusion #Novels #Fiction #Literature #Linguistics https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/05/negatived-in-charles-dickens-little.html

But he is only stunned by the unvanquishable difficulty of his existence. (Charles Dickens, “Our Mutual Friend”) #Novel #Literature #CharlesDickens #OurMutualFriend

‘I’ll tell you,’ said Fledgeby. ‘I like to hear you ask it, because it’s looking alive. It’s what I should expect to find in one of your sagacious understanding. Now, candidly.’
‘Eh?’ cried Miss Jenny.
‘I said, now candidly,’ Mr Fledgeby explained, a little put out.
‘Oh-h!’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘And I take it for granted,’ pursued Fledgeby, ‘that to get the most of your materials for nothing would be well worth your while, Miss Jenny?’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘perhaps you’ll explain your meaning, young man, which is Greek to me.—You must have another touch of blue in your trimming, my dear.’ Having addressed the last remark to her fair client, Miss Wren proceeded to snip at some blue fragments that lay before her, among fragments of all colours, and to thread a needle from a skein of blue silk.
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘And you know where she is gone,’ hazarded Fledgeby.
‘Cannot undertake to say, sir, really,’ replied Miss Wren.
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘Are you in the army?’
‘Not exactly,’ said Fledgeby, rather flattered by the question.
‘Navy?’ asked Miss Wren.
‘N—no,’ said Fledgeby. He qualified these two negatives, as if he were not absolutely in either service, but was almost in both.
‘What are you then?’ demanded Miss Wren.
‘I am a gentleman, I am,’ said Fledgeby.
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘So he gave you my address; did he?’ asked Miss Wren.
‘I got it out of him,’ said Fledgeby, with a stammer.
‘You seem to see a good deal of him,’ remarked Miss Wren, with shrewd distrust. ‘A good deal of him you seem to see, considering.’
‘Yes, I do,’ said Fledgeby. ‘Considering.’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘Did you?’ Miss Wren retorted. ‘And I thought it was you, young man. Quite a coincidence. You’re not mistaken, and I’m not mistaken. How clever we are!’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

Regular flayers and grinders, my dear Lammle,’ repeated Fledgeby with a peculiar relish, ‘and they’ll skin you by the inch, from the nape of your neck to the sole of your foot, and grind every inch of your skin to tooth-powder. You have seen what Mr Riah is. Never fall into his hands, Lammle, I beg of you as a friend!’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

Lammle produced it, not without reluctance. Fledgeby looked at it, identified it, twisted it up, and threw it into the fire. They both looked at it as it blazed, went out, and flew in feathery ash up the chimney.
‘Now, Mr Fledgeby,’ said Lammle, as before; ‘am I to understand that you in any way reflect upon me, or hint dissatisfaction with me, in this affair?’
‘No,’ said Fledgeby.
‘Finally and unreservedly no?’
‘Yes.’
‘Fledgeby, my hand.’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘Mr Fledgeby,’ said Lammle, in a bullying tone, ‘am I to understand that you in any way reflect upon me, or hint dissatisfaction with me, in this affair?’
‘No,’ said Fledgeby; ‘provided you have brought my promissory note in your pocket, and now hand it over.’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

A certain remembrance connected with that feature operating as a timely warning, he took it thoughtfully between his thumb and forefinger, and pondered; Lammle meanwhile eyeing him with furtive eyes.
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant, John Podsnap.’ Fledgeby looked at the three blank sides of this note, quite as long and earnestly as at the first expressive side, and then looked at Lammle, who responded with another extensive sweep of his right arm.
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens

‘I say!’ remonstrated Fascination very slowly, and sitting down with his hands on his knees to stare at his glowering friend with his back to the fire.
‘I tell you, Fledgeby,’ repeated Lammle, with a sweep of his right arm, ‘the whole thing’s wrong. The game’s up.’
‘What game’s up?’ demanded Fledgeby, as slowly as before, and more sternly.
‘The game. Our game. Read that.’
#OurMutualFriend
#CharlesDickens