by Charles Dickens (Dickens)
I have read nearly every book written by English author Charles Dickens, so I decided to make it a goal to read the few books by Dickens that I have not read in the coming year. I decided to start with Dickens’ last work, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which was unfinished at the time of Dickens’ death at age 58 following a stroke. From the beginning of the book, it is apparent that this story is unlike anything else that Dickens has created due to its initial setting in an opium den with one of the main characters delirious from the effects of smoking opium from a pipe. Of all the books I have read, this novel is one of the darkest that I have read. Dickens spends more time with descriptive passages demonstrating the differences between dark and light, evil and good, and characters who demonstrate all of these. The main plot seems to be built around a beautiful young orphan who is engaged to be married to a childhood friend, Edwin Drood, an undeserving young man who doesn’t seem to know what he wants out of life. Both young people have guardians who have worked to prepare the couple for their upcoming marriage without checking to see if this is what they really want. There are several characters who seem to be in love with the young lady, named Rosa, who would gladly be willing to take Drood’s place. Conflict arises when the couple break off the engagement and young Drood goes missing. It appears that Edwin has either left the country or has been murdered by one of his rivals. Unfortunately, we will never know the outcome of this mystery since Dickens suffered a stroke and died while writing this book. I would venture to say that it is just as well that the book was not completed. The dark imagery, violence, drug abuse and racism that fill this book make this one of Dickens’ most complicated stories, and definitely not one of his best.
(If you enjoy this, you may also
wish to try Bleak House, David Copperfield or A Tale of Two Cities , all also by Charles Dickens.)
( Wikipedia entry for Charles
Dickens )
Recommended
by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service
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If you're a mystery fan, you're invited to join us for this month's Just Desserts meeting tonight, October 26th, at 6:30 p.m. in the 4th floor auditorium of the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown at 14th & "N" St. -- this mystery-themed discussion group meets on the last Thursday of each month, January through October. Tonight, in our 2023 season finale, we'll be discussing the life and works of classic American mystery author Dashiell Hammett. After this meeting, Just Desserts will take a year-end hiatus and then return in late January 2024.
Even if you haven't read anything for this specific discussion, you can still participate, and learn about great new mysteries to try! For more information, check out the Just Desserts schedule at https://lincolnlibraries.org/bookguide/book-groups/#justdesserts
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