During the Christmas season, the literary classic A Christmas Carol , written by Charles Dickens, is usually a constant in my blog. During the fall season I give much of the blog to Edgar Allan Poe. With this passion in mind, my two favorite authors actually had opportunity to meet: Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe. I can only imagine! Was it their writing skills that drew them together? Was it their common interests to simply write? Was it just a happenstance?
It was perhaps...a raven!
There is a belief by many that Charles Dickens was a major inspiration to Edgar Allan Poe"s The Raven. Here is the real background that establishes this train of thought...
Dickens was writing a novel titled Barnaby Rudge. The novel painted a vivid portrait of London's demise, a city out of control with various mobs ruling her streets. London was experiencing a population explosion and was not able to deal with vast amount of people residing there.
This novel begins with an unsolved double murder. It develops further with a conspiracy, blackmail, abduction, and finally retribution. The novel includes confrontations including fathers opposing their sons, trade apprentices plotting against their masters, and Christians challenging one another: Protestants vs. Catholics. The main character Barnaby Rudge struggles against himself from his haunting past. The story includes acts of violence, horror, secrets, and ghostly scenarios.
Although a novel, Dickens identifies with the London residents the problems and issues of the time. This novel was becoming a reality to the reader. Enter: A raven.
Charles Dickens wrote to a friend about this novel: " My notion is to have Barnaby in company with a pet raven, who is immensely more knowing than himself. To this end I have been studying my bird, and I think I could make a very queer character of him."
Dickens had purchased a raven to get a feel for what he was writing. For myself, I found that extremely passionate, and gives the reader a comfort in knowing the depth of Dicken's writing skills.
The raven purchased by Dickens was named "Grip." His reputation?...he was not a very nice bird. Grip was initially put indoors but had to be moved to the "carriage house" ( similar to a garage or barn. Note: I have a friend who has updated his barn for storage of his cars. He explained " This barn was originally a carriage house for horse and carriage.) The reason Grip was sentenced to the carriage house? He had a habit of nipping at children, especially at the ankles. One reason people admired Grip was his vocabulary. He had an articulate and expanded vocabulary.
Edgar Allen Poe wrote a review of Dicken's Barnaby Rudge. He gave it high marks...with compliments! He wrote the review in Graham magazine, a popular writer's critique of the era. Poe's only suggestion was to have the raven a more centerpiece of the novel...hmmm?
Grip died at a rather young age for a raven. He unfortunately had an addiction. Grip loved to chew, eat or even drink...paint. Even while in the carriage house he nibbled on the painted surfaces of carriages. What did him in? He was found drinking white paint from a tin. Although the vet had given Grip a large dose of castor oil and he seemed to get better, it was short-lived. Dickens wrote to a friend named Daniel Maclise and described Grip's death this way: " On the clock striking twelve he appeared slightly agitated, but soon recovered, walking twice or thrice along the coach house. He stopped to bark, staggered, exclaimed "Halloa old girl" ( his favorite expression), and died. He behaved throughout with a decent fortitude, equanimity, and self possession, which cannot be too much admired. The children seemed glad of it. He did bite their ankles. But, that way was only in play!"
Dickens had Grip stuffed. After Dicken's death, Grip was sold at an auction. After Grip exchanged hands through the years, he ended up with Col. Richard Gimbel. At Gimbel's death, Grip was bequeathed to the Free Library in Philadelphia.
Did Edgar Allan Poe actually meet Charles Dickens? Yes they did...in the U.S. in 1842, sometime between March 5th to the 9th. This meeting was arranged at Poe's request. Although it was never known what the conversation totally consisted of, it is known Poe did comment on Grip. Poe described Grip as intensely amazing. The conversation also included Dickens assisting Poe finding better publishers.
Some write of Poe and Dickens friendship souring a couple of years later due to negative comments about American poetry in an English article that was backed by Dickens. Yet, nothing was ever known for certain.
In 2012 the Tower of London had a pair of ravens named Jubilee and Grip. It was a time of celebration for both Queen and for the bicentennial of Charles Dicken's birth. The raven named Grip was the 3rd raven at the Tower named after Dicken's. Another story goes back to WWII when London was bombed by the Germans, including the Tower of London. Of the "Tower Ravens" that lived there, only 2 survived....a female named Mabel and a male named....Grip!
Will we ever know whether "Grip" influenced Poe in his poem The Raven? Suddenly I saw a raven flying near. I heard it's voice cry... "Nevermore!"
It was perhaps...a raven!
There is a belief by many that Charles Dickens was a major inspiration to Edgar Allan Poe"s The Raven. Here is the real background that establishes this train of thought...
Dickens was writing a novel titled Barnaby Rudge. The novel painted a vivid portrait of London's demise, a city out of control with various mobs ruling her streets. London was experiencing a population explosion and was not able to deal with vast amount of people residing there.
This novel begins with an unsolved double murder. It develops further with a conspiracy, blackmail, abduction, and finally retribution. The novel includes confrontations including fathers opposing their sons, trade apprentices plotting against their masters, and Christians challenging one another: Protestants vs. Catholics. The main character Barnaby Rudge struggles against himself from his haunting past. The story includes acts of violence, horror, secrets, and ghostly scenarios.Although a novel, Dickens identifies with the London residents the problems and issues of the time. This novel was becoming a reality to the reader. Enter: A raven.
Charles Dickens wrote to a friend about this novel: " My notion is to have Barnaby in company with a pet raven, who is immensely more knowing than himself. To this end I have been studying my bird, and I think I could make a very queer character of him."
Dickens had purchased a raven to get a feel for what he was writing. For myself, I found that extremely passionate, and gives the reader a comfort in knowing the depth of Dicken's writing skills.
The raven purchased by Dickens was named "Grip." His reputation?...he was not a very nice bird. Grip was initially put indoors but had to be moved to the "carriage house" ( similar to a garage or barn. Note: I have a friend who has updated his barn for storage of his cars. He explained " This barn was originally a carriage house for horse and carriage.) The reason Grip was sentenced to the carriage house? He had a habit of nipping at children, especially at the ankles. One reason people admired Grip was his vocabulary. He had an articulate and expanded vocabulary.
Edgar Allen Poe wrote a review of Dicken's Barnaby Rudge. He gave it high marks...with compliments! He wrote the review in Graham magazine, a popular writer's critique of the era. Poe's only suggestion was to have the raven a more centerpiece of the novel...hmmm?
Grip died at a rather young age for a raven. He unfortunately had an addiction. Grip loved to chew, eat or even drink...paint. Even while in the carriage house he nibbled on the painted surfaces of carriages. What did him in? He was found drinking white paint from a tin. Although the vet had given Grip a large dose of castor oil and he seemed to get better, it was short-lived. Dickens wrote to a friend named Daniel Maclise and described Grip's death this way: " On the clock striking twelve he appeared slightly agitated, but soon recovered, walking twice or thrice along the coach house. He stopped to bark, staggered, exclaimed "Halloa old girl" ( his favorite expression), and died. He behaved throughout with a decent fortitude, equanimity, and self possession, which cannot be too much admired. The children seemed glad of it. He did bite their ankles. But, that way was only in play!"
Dickens had Grip stuffed. After Dicken's death, Grip was sold at an auction. After Grip exchanged hands through the years, he ended up with Col. Richard Gimbel. At Gimbel's death, Grip was bequeathed to the Free Library in Philadelphia.
Did Edgar Allan Poe actually meet Charles Dickens? Yes they did...in the U.S. in 1842, sometime between March 5th to the 9th. This meeting was arranged at Poe's request. Although it was never known what the conversation totally consisted of, it is known Poe did comment on Grip. Poe described Grip as intensely amazing. The conversation also included Dickens assisting Poe finding better publishers.
Some write of Poe and Dickens friendship souring a couple of years later due to negative comments about American poetry in an English article that was backed by Dickens. Yet, nothing was ever known for certain.
In 2012 the Tower of London had a pair of ravens named Jubilee and Grip. It was a time of celebration for both Queen and for the bicentennial of Charles Dicken's birth. The raven named Grip was the 3rd raven at the Tower named after Dicken's. Another story goes back to WWII when London was bombed by the Germans, including the Tower of London. Of the "Tower Ravens" that lived there, only 2 survived....a female named Mabel and a male named....Grip!
Will we ever know whether "Grip" influenced Poe in his poem The Raven? Suddenly I saw a raven flying near. I heard it's voice cry... "Nevermore!"
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