From School Library Journal
Grade 4 Up-When the Perrys discover that the renowned Charles Dickens is coming to their Montreal town, they contrive a number of ways to meet him. His arrival is witnessed by the youngest children, who are dazzled by his brilliantly hued costume and bemused by his accident-prone wife. Closer contact occurs when Mrs. Perry and her potential son-in-law accept small roles in a dramatic presentation featuring the writer as director, stage manager, and performer. The pace grows increasingly feverish as the noted author strips the Perry home for stage scenery, threatens his wife with mesmerism, and drives his cast to distraction. Against all odds, the production is a success and everyone breathes a sigh of relief when the illustrious man departs. Written in a Dickensian style employing short chapters with long headings, the present-tense narrative is related mostly from the viewpoint of Dorothy, the middle child. Briticisms, Victorianisms, and a plethora of real and dramatic characters contrive to complicate the text; several innuendoes may be beyond the intended audience. Some basic knowledge of Canadian history and Dickens, himself, is required to follow events. The framed full-color illustrations capture the styles of the day and add broad humor to the tongue-in-cheek telling. A cast of characters and a historical note at the beginning attempt to identify fact from fiction. The result is a short novel for Dickens fans and history buffs but a secondary purchase for most libraries.
Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Inside Flap
Why do people react so strangely in the presence of the famous? The first ?media? tour of North America ? complete with fans and reporters ? was that of the mid-nineteenth century British novelist Charles Dickens. At the end of his journey, Dickens made a stop in Montreal, where he was invited to join the amateur theatrical group of the Montreal garrison. In short order, he took over the production, dismissing the organizing committee and taking the best roles for himself. He even raided people?s homes for furniture for the sets. All the while, Dickens neglected his poor, accident-prone wife, Kate.
With insight and wit, Jan Mark explores the mixed blessings of becoming involved with the very famous. Regolo Ricci?s wickedly funny paintings combine the high drama and the farce of Dickens?s writing?and his life.
