The Sparkler
It is probably true that many people base their view of Charles Dickens, the man, on his relationship with the characters he created in his writing, on their loves and hates, failures and disasters, their fears, ambitions, expectations, achievements and on the celebrations of their various and sometimes happy resolutions.
In The Sparkler we meet a very different man. This Dickens is self-indulgent, immoral and even downright dishonest. He remains conspicuously lacking in any sort of sense of responsibility for his effect on those close to him or who seem to have an importance to him.
He remains unaware that his association with Mary, his sister-in-law, places his wife in a curious, almost platonic, role while his undeveloped relationship with Mary herself will soon become, for many readers. the most interesting, moving, challenging, yet never explored, aspect of this novel. And this Dickens seems to spend worryingly little of his time actually writing.
Nevertheless, The Sparkler is a fascinating piece of work. The prose glitters, wittily and as brightly as the gemstones in the necklace that gives this novel its title. Some readers might wish the author had used the words “as if” or “as though” rather than “like,” but that is neither here nor there.
So, hey! Forget about the Dickens you thought you knew and enjoy meeting this new one.
