"Store of Antiquities", Dickens: a summary

In this article you will get acquainted with a work called "Ancient Shop". Dickens wrote it in the genre of sentimentalism.

A little about the author

Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in England (Portsmouth). Glory came to the English writer during his lifetime, which is a rarity. The author wrote mainly in the genre of realism, but in his novels there is a place for a fairy tale and sentimentalism.

So what did Charles Dickens become famous for? "Ancient shop" is not his only famous work. Books that brought the author glory:

• "Oliver Twist";
• "Nicholas Nickleby";
• The Pickwick Club;
• "Our mutual friend";
• "Cold house";
• "A Tale of Two Cities";
• "Big hopes";
• "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."

Oddities of the famous Englishman

Dickens was able to enter the state of trance, often fell into it involuntarily. He was haunted by visions, and he often felt a state of deja vu. When the last happened, he crumpled and twisted his hat. Because of this, he spoiled the mass of headgear and eventually completely stopped wearing them.

His friend and editor-in-chief of the Fortnightley Review magazine, George Henry Lewis, said that the author constantly communicated with the heroes of his works. Working on the novel "Bench of Antiquities", Dickens also saw the main character of the work - Nellie. The author himself told that she was confused under his feet, did not allow him to eat and sleep.

The novel "The Store of Antiquities" (Dickens): a summary

The main heroine of the novel is a girl of twelve years old named Nellie. She is an orphan and lives with her grandfather, who simply adores her. A girl from infancy lives among outlandish things: ancient weapons, sculptures of Indian gods, antique furniture.

A sweet girl has a huge willpower. Readers are impressed by the childless courage of a twelve-year-old crumb. The relative decided to ensure the future of the girl in a very strange way - playing cards. He wanted to win a large sum and send the girl to study in the best college. To do this, he leaves the girl at night alone and goes to meetings with friends.

Unfortunately, the grandfather is haunted by setbacks in the game, and he loses their house and antiquities shop. The family has to go where the eyes look. In the novel there is also a guy who is in love with a girl. His name is Keith. A teenager and his family always try to help the girl and her grandfather.

The owner of their shop is an evil dwarf named Quill. He knows how to do terrible and terrible things:

• Swallow eggs together with the shell;
• Drink boiling water.

For some reason, when he becomes the owner of the shop, then he goes to sleep in Nelly's baby cot. Qwill is an eerie creature, a demon and a deed. He never earned money honestly, although he has his own office. The author writes that in her for eighteen years as a watch has become, and ink has long dried paint. The table in the study serves as a dwarf for the dwarf.

So, in the way of old Trent and Nelly awaits a huge number of adventures. On the way, they get acquainted with the comedians, a kind but poor teacher of a rural school.

They are also sheltered by the kind hostess of the wax museum of Mrs. Jarley. The woman gave Nelly work and shelter for her and grandfather. Finally, the girl lives quietly, but it was not there - the grandfather starts playing again. After losing all the money earned by the girl, grandfather decides to rob the mistress of the house. Nellie learns about this and does not allow the relative to make a rash step. They leave the house quietly at night.

Travelers fall into an industrial city. Work can not be found. At night they are sheltered by a local fireman. It takes a long time to stay with him, and they need to go again. On the way the girl gets under heavy rain and gets wet before the thread. The consequence of this is Nellie's disease. At last travelers find shelter. They regretted and allocated a lodge under the old church. Unfortunately, it's getting late - the girl is dying. The old man is going crazy and also leaves this world.

"Store of Antiquities" (Dickens) - this is a fairy tale, the plot of which is built on the game of contrasts. The famous Englishman had a passion for everything fantastic, unearthly and bizarre. Baby Nellie appears before the readers as a small fairy: fragile, tender, surprisingly kind. She forgives all her foolish grandfather and tries, despite her young years, to solve problems for both.

When the novelist is bored by Nellie's "fairy tale", he introduces simple people into the plot: a teenager in love with her, his mother, brothers. Readers, as a rule, feel a special sympathy for the front man Dick Svivelleru.

The Little Marquise is the heroine of the novel "The Store of Antiquities" (Dickens)

There is also a girl named Marquise in the novel. It is the absolute opposite of Nelly. The Marquis is a servant in the house of the rich: Samson Brass and his sister Sally. They completely tortured the girl with black work. She lives in a damp, cold kitchen. Sally beats her and keeps starving.

The baby is fucked up and simple-minded. She often eavesdrops and peeps at the keyhole. This is a normal, cheerful and lively girl. A little tricky: can easily steal something tasty. Despite the cruel treatment, the Marquise does not become bitter with people, but remains kind and bright.

Charles Dickens in his works raises the issue of defenselessness of children in the cruel world of adults. The sad fate of Nelly, the mockery of the Marquise, makes the reader remember the other heroes of his novels. Dickens lovers will also remember Oliver Twist, who was tortured in the workhouse.

Dickens' novel became popular during the author's lifetime. Not only residents of the Foggy Albion, but also Americans were crying over the premature death of Nellie. The author himself, as he wrote to a friend, was greatly upset because of this turn of events in the novel. He could not have acted differently, the death of the protagonist was supposed to indicate cruelty towards children. The author wanted to turn readers away from evil and sow good and compassion in their hearts.