Reading in Manchester
Title
Description
Speech before a reading of A Christmas Carol, Manchester (31 July 1857).
Creator
Dickens, Charles
Source
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser (1 August 1857).
Date
Bibliographic Citation
Dickens, Charles. 'Before a Reading of the Carol' (31 July 1857). Dickens Search. Eds. Emily Bell and Lydia Craig. Accessed [date]. https://dickenssearch.com/speeches/1857-07-31_Speech_Reading-in-Manchester.
Transcription
I need hardly say to you that nothing can be more delightful to me than to know that you are interested, and nothing can be more agreeable to me than that the short personal relations between us may be perfectly friendly, easy, unaffected and unconstrained.
Summary
'Mr. Dickens introduced his reading by saying that on the occasions when he had the honour of repeating his "Carol" before audience he was accustomed to commence with two observations. The first was, that he should pause for five minutes half way through the story; and the second, that whenever as they proceeded the audience felt disposed to give utterance to any emotions, he frankly begged they would do so in the most natural manner possible, and without the least apprehension of disturbing him.'
Location
Venue
Publication Type
Files
Collection
Citation
Dickens, Charles, “Reading in Manchester,” Dickens Search, accessed May 17, 2024, https://dickenssearch.com/speeches/1857-07-31_Speech_Reading-in-Manchester.