Mon, Oct 4, 1976
Young Charles returns to his family in London at the end of the school term and is unlikely to return. He finds it hard to accept that London is a great classroom for learning about life. He plays with street urchins and learns about the poverty of those around him. While he knows his father is employed as a civil service clerk he's also aware that prosecutors are after him. Mr. Kerr holds the note for £40 and is demanding payment. Charles seeks employment to help out with the family finances.
Mon, Oct 11, 1976
During his tour of the United States, Charles Dickens meets Commissioner Wentworth and takes exception to New York city's jail, known as The Tombs. He recalls when, as a boy of 12, his own father was jailed for 9 months without any evidence. Charles had obtained employment with Cousin James, working in horrible circumstances making boot polish (the blacking of the title). He's bullied by one of the older boys who terrify him by covering him with blacking. At the Dickens home, Mr. Kerr continues to press for repayment and the elder Dickens finds himself in the sponging-house, a temporary jail for debtors. Charles begs and borrows and even sells some of his possessions to raise the funds for his father's release but only manages half of the amount. Some sad news actually brings good fortune.
Sat, Aug 27, 1977
In his sick bed, an elderly Charles Dickens recalls his life. He remembers his father John as someone who is a bit larger than life. A great storyteller, he enjoys performing monologues in ale houses and even has the young Charles sing a song or recite a poem from time to time. John works as a clerk but with a growing family, he has fallen behind in his payments to the local shopkeepers. He borrows a bit of money from a cousin but he has to make plans to relocate to a less prosperous part of London. Before he can do so however, he is visited by a solicitor seeking payment on behalf of his clients.
Mon, Dec 20, 1976
In New York, Dickens reads a Christmas Carol to a sold out audience. He reminisces about events in his childhood, particularly those involving his larger than life father and some of the financial difficulties they faced one particular Christmas. Similarly, he reads from his other works and recalls how his father and events of his own life are reflected in his stories. His father's death affected him deeply.
Mon, Dec 6, 1976
Dickens recalls his first visit to the United States in 1842 where he met Edgar Allan Poe for the first time. Kate, psychologically fragile as she is, accompanied him on that trip though she isn't having much fun. Poe sat in the lobby through the night waiting for an opportunity to see the great Dickens and is a great supporter of the English writer. The two share a bottle of Madeira and he tells Poe of his skill as a hypnotist. Poe admits to also being an enthusiast and tells him of an experiment he has undertaken in the field. Poe claims to have hypnotized a man who was on the verge of death and has been in a hypnotic state for 7 months. Dickens is shocked at what he finds.
Mon, Dec 13, 1976
Dickens recalls a trip to Montreal in 1842 where he and Kate performed on stage. Kate is unhappy and very much wants to go home. Their return is a joyous one and they are happily reunited with their many children. As well, Kate is again pregnant. Charles takes an interest in Georgina, who Kate hires to help her about the house. The girl very much reminds Charles of his long lost Mary. He is outraged however when one of his books is pirated and widely published in the United States with absolutely no compensation for himself. He becomes concerned about his finances particularly when his latest book, Martin Chuzzlewit, sells less than expected. He is again resolved to buy back all of his copyrights. He is still shocked at the level of poverty to be found and promotes education as the solution.
Mon, Oct 18, 1976
In New York City, Dickens meets an ardent admirer, a Miss Baldwin, who reminds him of someone from his youth. As a young man, Charles was involved in amateur theatricals and was writing, drawing on his own experiences for the latter. Charles has also taken an interest in Maria Beadnell, one of several daughters to a well-known banker. In fact, he's fallen madly in love with her and has taken to writing her poetry. Fearing that he way not make enough money as a shorthand writer, he decides to take acting lessons in the hopes the theater may somehow supplement his income. But then Maria's cousin Mary Ann meets Charles' father quite by chance and learns that he was once in prison.
Mon, Oct 25, 1976
In 1835, Dickens is working as a journalist and publishing stories wherever and whenever he can. He's still in love with Maria Beadnell but she seems to think less of him thanks at least in part to information from her friend Mary Ann. He drowns his sorrows at the local ale house and he falls into the arms of Desdemona. Although he writes under a pseudonym, Dickens begins to gather a following. His first book nets him £150, much to his spendthrift father's pride and joy. The money doesn't last very long. The elder Dickens is again arrested and put in the sponging house.On a visit to his publisher's house he meets the man's daughter, Catherine Hogarth.