Dickens and the workhouse.
In today's Daily Telegraph a page is given to work of a researcher. Ruth Richardson an historian and author believes that she has located a building in central London that Charles Dickens used as a model for the workhouse in Oliver Twist.
The building in Cleveland Street is a short walk from where Dickens spent some of his childhood and early adult years. He probably walked past it often. Dickens was vehemently against such treatment of children and adults in these workhouses, hence the story of Oliver Twist.
Today the building is assessed for demolition and names from the theatre are opposing this . Would Dickens have agreed with the action proposed , we will never know, but pondering how his books all showed society in it's darkest and meanest sense perhaps he would have signed in favour.
The full story can be found here.
Photo courtesy of the above site.
Comments
It's good to see you blogging again. Hope all is well.