No way does this essay fail: Instead it enlightens about your process and deepens my understanding of Dickens. I taught _A Tale of Two Cities_ many times when I was teaching high school many moons ago and loved that novel--so in some way you even take me back to those days when writing a memoir myself seemed such an unlikely possibility.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for flying this kite - I caught it on the breeze this morning while struggling with my tangled work in progress. With luck and your help I'll be airborne again soon.
I relate to Mr. Dick! Sometimes I feel like my mental faculties are much less clear strategic than my fellow humans, finding my way through this world more through criss-crossed senses and a heart to navigate.
I never know where your Republic will take me but your combined curiosity, eloquence, and intimate voice are endlessly inviting.
Thank you, Kimberly! Mr Dick brings me a sense of calm, and I’m so glad you can relate to him. I hope you will continue to take up the open invitation to visit the English Republic of Letters and stay as long as you like!
Love this take, Jeffrey. Loved your take on Mr Dick and his kite. And glad you brought the essay back.
PS. I know exactly how you feel about older work. I’ve republished versions of older essays a few times. Each time, I’d planned to mostly copy and paste. But then I’ve ended up doing a rewrite. 🙃
Because of this essay (the first time) I read David Copperfield (for the first time) and absolutely fell in love with Aunt Betsey, Peggotty, Mr. Dick, the Macawbers, and "Trotwood" himself. Look at you, Jeffrey, inspiring readers far and wide. ::))
Thank you so much, Troy! I well remember your comments were hugely encouraging then, as they are now. I remain very grateful. And it’s so wonderful to know that you fell under the book’s spell too!
I’m catching up on reading late— and loved this. I must have joined your list after this piece so I’m very glad to see it for the first time! And well timed. Thanks so much.
(Do you know the story of Carlyle rewriting his French Revolution after he lent the MS to JS Mill and a maid in his household accidentally threw it in the fire? 😂😩)
Love this, Jeffrey, and thank you for reposting it. Like Rona, I’ve had a week like no other. My son sent me a GIF of a dumpster on fire, skidding down a flooded road and that’s about right. One of our fellow Substack writers gave herself a haircut with kitchen scissors and that’s also a good indication of what we’re going through. Speaking of tonics: I just had one, with gin, lime, and some elderflower liqueur. But reading this was far more uplifting. (Sorry.) I don’t know if there’s much room in my brain for Dickens at the moment. But Mr. Dick is welcome anytime, as are you. A lovely essay.
Thank you for your comments, Mary. I can see that Mr Dick's qualities of empathy, decency and steadfastness might feel particularly welcome in the current climate. I'm a very long way from the political fray, but I feel the need for beautiful words and redemptive stories right now.
My apologies. I feel exactly the same way about the need for compassionate and generous writing at this time. The image of Mr. Dick’s kite, with the glued-on pages, is an absolute joy; I love your analogy of the World Wide Web. You bring kindness into the world; I thank you for it.
This piece touched me the first time and reappears at the right moment. Along with a multitude of like-minded souls, I am rekindling my sense of purpose and capacity for delight after a convulsive week. Mr. Dick is a tonic.
Ouch the idea of rewriting second drafts from scratch… this nearly happened, or partly happened with my dissertation but not quite for the same reasons as Chekhov. I had been saving my draft in a cloud file, and then one day I tried to open it and I couldn’t! The file had somehow been corrupted! (Which also feels like a strange word choice for this). Fortunately, it was solely my introduction and just a very early version, so I could largely remember it.
Thank you for sharing that story about your dissertation, Sarah. I wonder if you feel that the second draft was better as a result of rewriting it from scratch?
I think the essay a very successful braid of thoughts like a fine challah bread--drafts and editing, publishing by kite or web and a fine presentation of Dickens' character Mr. Dick. I too am called to read some more Dickens.
Hi Leslie. I think I'd suggest David Copperfield. Though other favourites of mine are Great Expectations, Bleak House and Little Dorrit. For a shorter read, try Hard Times.
Mr. Dick was probably autistic before that concept existed- and King Charles obviously was what they would call his "special interest".
Thank you for that perspective, David. I wasn't aware of that use of "special interest," which has piqued my interest.
Loved it. A relative of Walter Mitty, is my sense. I must reread Dickens, just not all of them!
Thank you, Rick! I hope you enjoy rereading Dickens, whichever of the novels you choose
No way does this essay fail: Instead it enlightens about your process and deepens my understanding of Dickens. I taught _A Tale of Two Cities_ many times when I was teaching high school many moons ago and loved that novel--so in some way you even take me back to those days when writing a memoir myself seemed such an unlikely possibility.
Thank you so much, Mary! I deeply appreciate your comment and your own experience of that great novelist. 🙏
This essay was itself a moving "Memorial" to your reading of Dickens! Appreciated your exposition on Mr.. Dick very much.
Thank you very much, David! I know you're a great reader of novels, so I'm glad you enjoyed this one.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for flying this kite - I caught it on the breeze this morning while struggling with my tangled work in progress. With luck and your help I'll be airborne again soon.
Thank you for your beautiful comment, Anna! And I hope you will be up in the air soon.
I relate to Mr. Dick! Sometimes I feel like my mental faculties are much less clear strategic than my fellow humans, finding my way through this world more through criss-crossed senses and a heart to navigate.
I never know where your Republic will take me but your combined curiosity, eloquence, and intimate voice are endlessly inviting.
Thank you, Kimberly! Mr Dick brings me a sense of calm, and I’m so glad you can relate to him. I hope you will continue to take up the open invitation to visit the English Republic of Letters and stay as long as you like!
Love this take, Jeffrey. Loved your take on Mr Dick and his kite. And glad you brought the essay back.
PS. I know exactly how you feel about older work. I’ve republished versions of older essays a few times. Each time, I’d planned to mostly copy and paste. But then I’ve ended up doing a rewrite. 🙃
Thank you, Holly! Funnily, bringing back this essay was like seeing an old friend again 🙂
Because of this essay (the first time) I read David Copperfield (for the first time) and absolutely fell in love with Aunt Betsey, Peggotty, Mr. Dick, the Macawbers, and "Trotwood" himself. Look at you, Jeffrey, inspiring readers far and wide. ::))
Thank you so much, Troy! I well remember your comments were hugely encouraging then, as they are now. I remain very grateful. And it’s so wonderful to know that you fell under the book’s spell too!
I actually remember reading this a year ago, because I remember being struck by Summers advice about rewriting drafts.
This time, however, I also found myself very engaged by your thoughts on Dickens. :)
Thank you for reading this again, Michael! 🙂
I’m catching up on reading late— and loved this. I must have joined your list after this piece so I’m very glad to see it for the first time! And well timed. Thanks so much.
(Do you know the story of Carlyle rewriting his French Revolution after he lent the MS to JS Mill and a maid in his household accidentally threw it in the fire? 😂😩)
Thank you, Victoria! I love the Carlyle story. I’m sure some would say that the housemaid was trying to do the world a favour…
Love this, Jeffrey, and thank you for reposting it. Like Rona, I’ve had a week like no other. My son sent me a GIF of a dumpster on fire, skidding down a flooded road and that’s about right. One of our fellow Substack writers gave herself a haircut with kitchen scissors and that’s also a good indication of what we’re going through. Speaking of tonics: I just had one, with gin, lime, and some elderflower liqueur. But reading this was far more uplifting. (Sorry.) I don’t know if there’s much room in my brain for Dickens at the moment. But Mr. Dick is welcome anytime, as are you. A lovely essay.
Thank you for your comments, Mary. I can see that Mr Dick's qualities of empathy, decency and steadfastness might feel particularly welcome in the current climate. I'm a very long way from the political fray, but I feel the need for beautiful words and redemptive stories right now.
My apologies. I feel exactly the same way about the need for compassionate and generous writing at this time. The image of Mr. Dick’s kite, with the glued-on pages, is an absolute joy; I love your analogy of the World Wide Web. You bring kindness into the world; I thank you for it.
I don't see any need for apologies! I'm glad if Mr Dick's calm wisdom can bring us moments of tranquility right now ❤️
This piece touched me the first time and reappears at the right moment. Along with a multitude of like-minded souls, I am rekindling my sense of purpose and capacity for delight after a convulsive week. Mr. Dick is a tonic.
Thank you, Rona. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the post a second time and that you found Mr Dick to be a tonic.
Beautiful essay, Jeffrey! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Andrei!
Ouch the idea of rewriting second drafts from scratch… this nearly happened, or partly happened with my dissertation but not quite for the same reasons as Chekhov. I had been saving my draft in a cloud file, and then one day I tried to open it and I couldn’t! The file had somehow been corrupted! (Which also feels like a strange word choice for this). Fortunately, it was solely my introduction and just a very early version, so I could largely remember it.
Hope you’re enjoying your travels!
Thank you for sharing that story about your dissertation, Sarah. I wonder if you feel that the second draft was better as a result of rewriting it from scratch?
I’d like to think it was, although at times it did feel like I wanted to burn the whole thing and start from scratch 😂
I remember reading it last year and thought to myself: what kind of a "kite" would it be when I want to "glue" all my writings 10 years from now? :)
Thank you, Yi. And did you find an answer to your question about the glue?
Still searching for it ... 😅
I think the essay a very successful braid of thoughts like a fine challah bread--drafts and editing, publishing by kite or web and a fine presentation of Dickens' character Mr. Dick. I too am called to read some more Dickens.
Thank you, Leslie and I hope you read and enjoy some Dickens!
I have read "Tale of Two cities (in school)" and "A Christmas Carol" several times. What you recommend I start with?
Hi Leslie. I think I'd suggest David Copperfield. Though other favourites of mine are Great Expectations, Bleak House and Little Dorrit. For a shorter read, try Hard Times.