MovieChat Forums > Scrooge (1951) Discussion > Dickens is a lousy writer

Dickens is a lousy writer

posted 4 years ago by Ed (527)
10 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, have you ever tried to read his stories? They are filled with overblown, long winded run-on sentences. It takes him 30 words to say what could be said in 4. Christmas Carol, the story, is virtually unreadable in some passages. I’ve read (and enjoyed) Oliver Twist and Tale of Two Cities, but they suffer from these flaws, too.

When Dicken actually gets around to telling the story proper, he does a very good job. That’s an infrequent “when.” I don’t buy the argument that it was the style of the day, either. I’ve read Moby Dick and Barry Lyndon, both filled with long passages, but they aren’t grating like a Dickens novel is.

Clearly, Dickens was paid by the word. I believe I read that somewhere, and it shows in the writing style. Okay, that’s enough complaining from me. Love the movies adaptations though! :)

[–] strntz (12675) 4 years ago

I hated reading Tale of Two Cities in HS, I mean really hated it, but I read Christmas Carol twice every year before Christmas. There are only a couple of times when Dickens goes off on a tangent in Christmas Carol.

In any case, Christmas Carol is my favorite short story of all time, so I forgive him when he gets a bit verbose.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7798) 4 years ago

A lot of books were written that way back then. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley which came out almost 30 years before A Christmas was written that way too. You should keep in mind that there were no TVs or movies back then so people would not be bothered by the over descriptive things. Also you could just read an abridged version of it if it bothers you that much.

[–] Ed (527) 4 years ago

No, for me, it’s Dickens’ style, not the era. I’ve read dozens of 19th century novels, and just Dickens bothers me. Frankenstein was very readable for me.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7798) 4 years ago

Still you could get an abridged version that does not have the run on sentences.

[–] hotsummerday (93) 4 years ago

No, I don't think Dickens is lousy writer. A lot of writers back then had a obsession with words and paragraphs that go on and on on one thing with pages and pages that I can't stand it sometimes. They did not have down home folky talk to regular folk in their language like Stephen King and Marget Mitchell.

Yes, Christmas Carol can be verbose on subjects like the ghost of present takes Scrooge on trip around the world to see how people celebrating Christmas and Dickens goes overboard on description of food and stuff selling in stores on Christmas day with long details.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2364) 3 years ago

I read all three of those books and thought they were great.

[–] mikethemartian (6872) 3 years ago

I’ve only read A Tale of Two Cities and I liked it. I was motivated to read it because it was referenced a couple of times in The Wrath of Khan.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

Different strokes for different folks. While his style does take a little getting used to, I find him generally witty and enjoyable. A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations are favorites of mine-- Barnaby Rudge is a damn chore though.

[–] bistritapcv (1885) 2 years ago

The Dickens you say

[–] liscarkat (18897) 2 years ago

I've read several Dickens novels, and the only one I found a chore to get through was "Little Dorrit".