Schools Talk
If you want to get your pupils excited about Charles Dickens, then here is the perfect way to do it.
Object of Talk
The Secret World of Charles Dickens is a talk specially designed for schools, and in particular English students, as an entertaining introduction to this great writer in his bicentennial year – and beyond. 
However rather than just concentrating on his lengthy novels (which can be a little off-putting to some), the talk focuses on other writings and public performances in Dickens’ life that aren’t so well-known; but are more readily accessible.
The result is that the students are drawn back to the novels by these fascinating and diverse paths.
Spicing up the Presentation
It is a little known fact that Dickens was also a magician (“the best conjurer I have ever seen – and I have paid to see several” wrote one famous contemporary). So, intertwined with Ian’s presentation, are some Dickensian conjuring tricks to illuminate some of his points.
And in case you think that is a tenuous connection, we quote from probably the greatest critic of Dickens, GK Chesterton, author of the Father Brown detective stories.
Chesterton’s wrote that Dickens’ writing was “something between a showman and a magician”. And that in creating his characters he “drew reels and reels of highly coloured caricature out of an ordinary person, as dazzingly as a conjurer draws reels and reels of highly coloured paper out of an ordinary hat.”
Subects Covered
Dickens the Magazine Editor
Dickens was the editor of two magazines, Household Words and All the Year Round. These not only included the serialisation of the novels A Tale of Two Cities, Hard Times and Great Expectations; but also contained numerous articles from famous friends and contemporaries of Dickens such as Wilkie Collins (author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone).
Dickens the Letter Writer
His letters are not only an entertaining read on their own; but also throw light on his novels. These range from apologising to his wife’s chiropodist for depicting her unfavourably in David Copperfield; to confessing that a character in Bleak House was an exact reproduction of one of his friends - and then pretending it wasn’t when writing to the friend himself.
Dickens the Performer
His love of public performing was fundamental to Dickens’ life. As an actor (in plays he would produce, direct and often take the main part!), a distinguished speaker, a master of public readings of his books (arguably they contributed to his early death) and, of course, as an amateur conjuror.
Dickens the Comedian
Armando Iannucci, in a recent BBC documentary, made the case that Dickens’ was Britain’s greatest comedian. And there are many examples of his comedy writing, particularly in his earlier novels such as the Pickwick Papers and Nicholas Nickleby, demonstrating his gift for telling jokes in just a couple of lines.
Next Step
to find out his availabilty to add some spark for your next school lecture or talk - with not a power point presentation in sight!