Having now completed my reading of Charles Dickens’s “Nicholas Nickleby”, I scanned the last four of the dramatic and insightful Charles Keeping’s illustrations from my Folio Society edition of 1986.
‘They pressed forward to see’
‘ ‘Come,’ said Tim, ‘let’s be a comfortable couple’
‘The rebellion had just broken out’
‘One grey-haired, quiet, harmless gentleman’
Christopher Hibbert’s informative introduction puts this book – one of his earliest – in the context of the author’s life and times. Despite the campaign against the sadistic, exploitative, Yorkshire schools there is much of Dickens’s witty humour in this story of tragedy, romance, and mystery. It is so well known as to need no further comment from me.
Throughout this series Keeping’s drawings speak for themselves.
This afternoon, in order to make inroads into the weeds piercing the Rose Garden Brick Paths, I tore myself away from the Test Match commentary until after the tea break.
Here are two images from before my efforts;
and two scraped out and swept.
Jackie continued with much tidying and planting.
This evening we dined on pork chops coated with almonds; crisp roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower and broccoli, with tasty gravy. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Collin-Bourisset Fleurie 2019.
Wow, the dinner sounds so good, Derrick! You did a wonderful job clearing the weeds away. You may be able to use a pressure washer to clear the weeds?
Thanks very much, John. That is not something I’ve tried
Also, I have poured boiling water over weeds in situations like that. They soon decide my garden is not a place in which to linger.
🙂
Looking good – and i realize just how much work it takes to keep it that way!!
Thanks a lot, GP
Congratulations on the brick paths – immaculate!
Thank you very much, Sheree
We could use your tidying (and gardening ) skills here! ?. It looks great.
The illustrations are as expressive as usual.
Thank you very much, Merril
You’re welcome.
The hanged man and the rebellion are quite impressive, and the characterization in the remaining two illustrations is impeccable. Are you planning to continue with more Dickens and more Keeping?
Thanks very much, Dolly. I certainly am. There will be a brief hiatus occupied by some Chekov short stories. Any preferences for the next one?
You are very welcome, Derrick. Are you asking for preferences regarding Chekhov or Dickens? I am looking forward to your Chekhov posts.
Dickens. I have just one set of Chekhov.
I can’t have any preferences in that case as I am not familiar with Dickens. I defer to your judgement, Derrick. I am interested in translation of Chekhov, though.
Done
It’s good to see that your weeding labors were rewarded with an excellent dinner!
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Good work on the brick path weeding, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Maj
Congrats on completing Nicholas Nickleby!
“A comfortable couple”…I love that! And they DO look comfortable and happy! 😉 🙂
Congrats on your hard work of clearing the path! The path is smiling appreciatively! 🙂
Is there a Weeds Please Don’t Come Back product you could spray on the path now to keep it weed-clear?! HA! 😛
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS… “The philosopher who said that ‘work well done never needs doing over’ never weeded a garden.”
Thanks very much for these comments and their encouragement, Carolyn X
The garden is showing progress.???
Thank you very much, Pat
The garden is showing progress.???
Great work on the paths, well worth missing a few overs.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. I don’t seem to have missed much anyway 🙂
My goodness, those paths look amazing. Were you down on your hands and knees doing that? I know of no other way, but I’d like to learn of one.
I couldn’t get down on my hands and knees. I sit on an aluminium chair from which I heave myself up and drag it along every so often 🙂 Thanks a lot Jodie.
Oh, my goodness. I suppose that’s as cumbersome as it seems. I was hoping you had some fabulous tool you could tell me about.
🙂
Some of those illustrations have reminded me of a horror story which makes the loveliness of your garden path even more welcoming. It’s always nice to see the progress of before and after.
Thanks very much, JoAnna. Yes – a couple of horrors to finish up with
There’s nothing like a set of before and after photos to make a point, is there? As for Dickens, I couldn’t help pondering what he might have done with your Boris Johnson. After watching just a bit of the G7, it seems to me that the Prime Minister would fit quite nicely in a Dickensian tale.
What a perceptive thought, Linda. 🙂 Thanks very much
Oh, yum. Pork chops. You are such an indulged person! 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Yvonne
Great job weeding! What a difference.
Thanks very much, Laurie
At least with weeding you can stand back afterwards and view the result of your labour with satisfaction – this is so unlike general housework. One only notices the lack of attention; few notice the everyday attention that prevent one’s home turning into a look-alike of Miss Havisham’s!
Quite so, Anne. Mind you, we have brought down masses of washing today, and no ironing has been done for some weeks. Thanks very much.
Great job on the paths.
And that meal sounds so delicious.
Your garden looks so beautiful! It’s motivating me to work on mine XD ♥♥
I’m pleased. Thank you very much, Sonali
You’re most welcome ♥♥
Keeping has kept up with the grim end of the story. Meanwhile, the test match between you and the weeds looks headed for a draw!
🙂 Thanks very much, Uma
Well done on the pathway.
Your delicious supper sounds mouth wateringly good even at breakfast time!
Thanks very much, Sue
Excellent work on the weeding, Derrick! And thank you for sharing all of those wonderful illustrations by Christopher Hibbert.
Thanks a lot, John
An excellent job on the path Derrick.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Looks like hard work on those bricks! Very nice in the end!
Thanks very much, Dwight
You are welcome!
You and Jackie have done a beautiful job with the gardens, Derrick. Stone paths are a lot of work!
I am still enjoying the illustrations. 🙂
Thank you so much from us both, Lavinia
I feel tired just thinking of all that weeding. I might just have a lie down to regather my strength. 🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Quercus
Hope you enjoyed all of Nicholas Nickleby, not just the bit about The United Metropolitan Improved Hot Muffin and Crumpet Baking and Punctual Delivery Company 🙂
It was your leading me to that chapter that prompted me to read the book again. You were right. I’m re-reading Chekhov next. Thanks very much josbees
Good job Derrick ?
Thank you very much, Ribana
Oh what a wonderful phrase ‘let’s be a comfortable couple’. And I have so enjoyed your presentations.
Thank you so much, John
Your dinner sounds very good, Derrick. These pictures of Nicholas Nickleby are really lovely. My Dickens novels are like Alice’s sister’s book [from Alice in Wonderland] – not pictures at all.
That must make for harder reading, Robbie. Thank you very much