Janet
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WARNING --- THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CHAPTERS 46 – 48
Summary under spoiler(46) Nicholas feels he must tell Charles Cheeryble about Smike and why he has prevented Smike from going with his father. He doesn’t believe that Mr Snawley is Smike’s father. Charles informs Nicholas that Ralph had been to the offices earlier trying to discredit Nicholas. The Cheerybles defended Nicholas, which pleases Nicholas. Charles suggests Nicholas doesn’t say anything about the situation – he thinks it will blow over.
Charles asks Nicholas to deal with a confidential situation relating to the young lady that Nicholas is hoping to meet. When he was younger, Charles was in love with the girl’s mother and his brother with her mother’s sister. The sister died and Charles’ love married another man – however their marriage was unhappy and the man spent all of his wife’s money. The lady then died and now the husband is hiding from those he owes money to and his daughter is helping to support him financially by working as a governess, but after suffering problems at work she visited Charles Cheeryble seeking his assistance. Charles has given her money, although she has requested that he give it to her in small amounts so that her father can’t get his hands on it. They have also bought her various items that she may sell. Charles requests that Nicholas act on her behalf in the selling of these items – they couldn’t take on this role themselves because her father might recognise them and they don’t think it’s appropriate to ask Frank because he might be “flighty and thoughtless in such a delicate matter…” and might actually fall for the girl. Tim is not a good choice either as he would be too confrontational with the girl’s father.
Nicholas wonders if he should tell the Cheeryble brothers that he might fall for Madeline himself but he keeps quiet. He goes to their house, which is in a very run-down and neglected part of town. However Madeline has made the house look very homely inside. Nicholas encounters Madeline’s father who looks far older than his years and looks rather haggard – although he still has fire in his eyes. Nicholas gives Madeline some money and almost immediately her father spends it on items including wine and grapes. Nicholas notes to himself that he gives no thought to his own daughter in the spending of this cash. Madeline, at her father’s insistence, gives Nicholas a receipt for the money. Nicholas asks when he should call again and Madeline says not for several weeks, but her father says he should call back in a week. As Nicholas leaves, Madeline catches him and asks that he doesn’t mention to the Cheerybles or Tim what occurred – he promises to remain her devoted servant.
(47) Noggs is annoyed because Ralph always pops out of the office when Newman’s lunch hour is imminent and then is late back. He ruminates how Ralph is only hungry for money, not food. He decides to sneak out, but just as he’s doing so he hears Ralph returning. Ralph is not alone, and, fearing his lunch will be further delayed, Newman decides to hide in a cupboard and pretend he’s already gone out! The visitor is a man called Arther Gride. He is a money-lender whom Ralph has known for many years. Gride informs Ralph that he is to marry a young woman called Madeline Bray. Her father owes Arthur money so Arthur will offer to cancel the loan if Bray agrees to the match. Arthur asks Ralph to let Walter Bray off a debt owed to him too – and tells him that Madeline is going to inherit some property. Ralph refuses to write off the debt – in fact he asks for extra money on top of the original dept, a payment for which he will assist Arthur in his quest for Madeline’s hand. Arthur reluctantly agrees.
Ralph and Arthur head to Madeline’s house to persuade Bray to allow the match. He is reluctant at first, telling them that it is not up to him, but to Madeline to decide who she will marry. Ralph comments that he would have thought that her father merely suggesting it would be the same as him commanding it. As they continue to discuss the matter they hear Madeline returning and Ralph urges them to leave and to give him a week to sort things. Ralph is confident that things will work out to his and Arthur’s advantage.
(48) Nicholas heads back to work feeling rather sad. He loves Madeline more than ever but he feels that due to his position he cannot act on this love. He is so quiet that Tim Linkinwater thinks he must be worrying about a mistake at work and urges him to “make a clean breast and scratch it out” rather than dwelling on it. Nicholas reassures everyone that he is happy but all day he continues to mull things over.
On his way home from work Nicholas spies a play-bill outside a minor theatre which, as fate would have it, announces the last appearance of Vincent Crummles. Nicholas can’t believe it, but then decides that there can’t possibly be more than one person of that name. A further look at the bill reveals other names from the Crummles family – including ‘the Phoenomenon’. Nicholas visits the theatre and meets up with his former employer who welcomes him warmly. He reveals that Mrs Crummles is pregnant again and that the whole family are moving to America where they have already have some acting lined up and that they hope to buy some land which would eventually be passed to their children.
After these confidences, Nicholas reveals his true name and fills in Mr C about what he has been up to since he left the troop. The Crummles are heading to Liverpool in the morning for the start of their journey and so Nicholas agrees to go out to a farewell supper given in honour of, and as a farewell to, the family.
Nicholas buys gifts for the family and attends the meal. Mrs Crummles is pleased to see him. They ask after Smike (initially confusing Nicholas by referring to him under his assumed name of Digby). Nicholas starts to say that Smike is not very good at the moment – he starts to explain what is going on with Smike’s father but then checks himself and apologises for forgetting himself.
Nicholas chats to a man called Mr Snittle Timberry who adapts other people’s literary works. Nicholas does not approve of this and wastes no time in telling Timberry.
As the evening ends, Mr Crummles reflects on how happy they were as a company and how he almost wishes Nicholas hasn’t attended the evening as it makes the family’s leaving rather bittersweet. They all make their farewells and Nicholas departs.
Although I enjoyed these chapters I didn’t actually make many highlights so I don’t have an awful lot to say.
One question I have – I might be missing something obvious, but in the text “Like the famous parrot, Nicholas thought a great deal, but was unable to offer a word ” – who is the famous parrot? I presume Dickens was referring to something real here (otherwise it’s a rather random comment!) but I don’t think I know about this!
I was surprised that the Crummles turned up again. I’m not really sure what the point of that was – but maybe time will reveal the reason?
We’re 77% done now. I’m looking forward to seeing how all the loose ends are tied up. Will Nicholas get his girl? Will Kate find love? Will the man next door keep throwing cucumbers at Mrs Nickleby? Will Noggs continue working for Ralph (and what will become of Ralph?) or will he find another direction in life? Will Smike find happiness with his natural family? There is a lot to be revealed. -
My full list is on both my English Counties Challenge thread, and the first page of my book blog.
I'm sorry - I didn't think to look there. I might have seen your post about it and have just forgotten.
Devon: instead of The Hound of the Baskervilles I've listed To Serve Them All My Days. I love Sherlock Holmes, but was so intensely brought up on him (my father was a London guide specialising in Sherlock Holmes) that I could probably reproduce the book verbatim, and I want something fresh.
Greater London: instead of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, for the same reasons as above, I've listed Mrs Dalloway, which I think makes a better book in that slot anyway.
Hertfordshire: instead of Pride and Prejudice, I've listed Howard's End. Again, I could probably quote P&P chapter and verse, and really don't need to reread it, however good a book it is.
Lancashire: instead of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, I've listed Mist Over Pendle. Would just much rather read the latter.
I hadn't realised/remembered Sherlock Holmes was on the list twice. To Serve Them All My Days appeals to me - I remember my parents watching a TV adaptation of it - in the 1970s, maybe. I don't remember much about it but the book sounds really good.
I night use your suggestions for Hertfordshire and Lancashire. I love P&P but don't feel the need to read it again, and I also don't really want to re-read OANTHF and have had Mist Over Pendle on my wish list for a long time.
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Will you re-read any of the English Counties challenge that you read before this year, or maybe an alternative, or are you happy to leave them ticked off because you have read them?
I'm in two minds what to do about the ones I've read before as I wasn't keen on some of them, and also I'm not keen on re-reading books due to the number of unread ones I have!
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One of my (personal) challenges for 2014 was to read a Dickens' novel. It seems a shame to fail when I'm so close, so I think I probably will. However, I'm sure neither of us what Claire to feel pressured to do the same so I'm more than happy to continue the discussion in the agreed time-frame.
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I will have to join you in having only read three (so far!), apart from some of the shorter Christmas stories. Therefore, mine are:
1. A Christmas Carol
2. Oliver Twist
3. Nicholas Nickleby (nearly done - loving it and I can't see that changing)
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Pretty much the same as this year - read more on my challenge lists, especially want to work on the English Counties Challenge - I hope I'll be able to encourage someone to join me again in another group read, as I've loved reading Nicholas Nickleby that way.
I'll certainly think about doing another book group read - I've really enjoyed doing Nicholas Nickleby that way too (although I may try to finish the last few instalments before the end of 2014 - but I'll still post in the correct weeks.
) I must admit I've neglected the English Counties Challenge a bit. Maybe if we do one we could start a bit sooner in the year? -
Well done with the reduction in book buying. You've done very well - this year's reduction is a significant one.
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WARNING --- THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CHAPTERS 43 – 45
Summary under spoiler
(43) Nicholas is dining upstairs at the Saracen’s Head with John and Tilda Browdie when they disturbed by an argument and so they go downstairs to investigate and discover a crowd of onlookers watching a young man shouting at another man. The first individual (who appears to have thrown his slippers at the second!) is about the same age of Nicholas and appears to be the underdog and because of this, Nicholas feels the need to side with him. Nicholas enquires what the fuss is about and the young man replies “a mere nothing!” and then goes on to explain that the man was speaking with disrespect about a female acquaintance and that he felt obliged to defend her, which had led to the confrontation.
The second man exclaims that he is entitled to admire a pretty girl without fear of a beating. The young lady, it appears, is not the least offended and actually agrees! Nicholas discovers that the young man is none other than the Cheeryble brothers’ nephew, Frank! Frank spends the rest of the evening with Nicholas, John and Tilda. Nicholas worries that Frank will become a rival for the affections of the young woman he is trying to track down.
The next day Tim Linkinwater comments about what a coincidence it was that Nicholas and Frank should have met in circumstances other than those of being introduced at the Cheeryble Brothers’ offices.
Charles Cheeryble says he would be pleased to be introduced to Nicholas’ family and so Nicholas invites him for tea the following day. Mrs N worries about the visit – she’s pleased that receiving them seems to be a return to their old social situation but worries because some of her fine tea things have gone missing. Kate tells her that the family still have each other and that they should be grateful of that rather than worrying about inconsequential things like missing crockery!
Charles and Frank come for their visit. Whilst chatting over tea it is revealed that Frank had recently been in Germany where he had fallen in love with the Mayor’s daughter. However it is soon apparent that Frank seems to have taken a shine to Kate – a fact which causes much grief to poor Smike.
(44) The chapter opens with Dickens reminding the reader about Ralph Nickleby’s traits – none of which are very good! We are told how much he hates people! Newman Noggs tells Ralph that Hawk and Verisopht are now in France. Ralph proclaims Hawk a coward. Nogg says he’s gone there for this health on advice of his doctor because he is in danger of a repeat attack of erysipelas.
Ralph tells Nogg to leave and ruminates that Nicholas has the luck of the devil but that he believes Hawk will eventually return to exact his revenge. He summons Noggs and asks if Wrackford Squeers has called. Newman replies in the negative and Ralph says that he will – and that he will have another man with him - Noggs is to instruct them to wait.
Ralph leaves the office to go debt collecting. He is polite to those who are well-off but harsh to the poorer people. As he is sheltering from the rain under a tree he is approached by a man who has been following him. They are old acquaintances who had fallen out some twenty years previously and the man had ended up in prison and was eventually transported for seven years. The man, Mr Brooker, is after financial help but Ralph refuses to assist him – he says the man can’t blackmail him because he has no secrets. Brooker offers to restore something to him but Ralph isn’t interesting in hearing him out and goes on his way.
Ralph’s next destination is the Mantalini’s shop, now in the ownership of Miss Knag. Mr Mantalini appears to have taken poison – the reason being that Mrs Mantalini wants a separation. Ralph informs her that as a married woman she has no property but she has been clever and everything is in Miss Knag’s name! Ralph tells Mantalini that he won’t assist him any more. He returns to his office where Squeers and another gentleman are waiting. They take a coach to Nicholas’ house – Newman tries to follow but the coach has too much of a head start.
A beggar approaches Noggs. Ordinarily Noggs would brush him but the beggar gives such a tale of woe that Noggs gives him halfpence. The man makes a comment (to which the reader isn’t privy) which interests Noggs and together they walk away in deep conversation…
(45) The Browdies are having tea with the Nicklebys. Mrs N has allowed this, even though she’s not entirely happy because social convention says they should have been introduced first but as they’ve been kind to Nicholas she makes allowances. The evening goes on until the Browdies express their concern at how late the hour is. Mrs N brushes this off, claiming they often entertain and are entertained late at night – as she waffles on Kate tries to take control of the conversation!
Ralph Nickleby arrives – he wishes to talk to the family. Nicholas asks him to leave, and John steps up to defend Nicholas – but Ralph announces that he is there because he has Smike’s father with him. Nicholas doesn’t believe him but Ralph produces not only Mr Snawley (allegedly Smike’s father) but also documentation which proves that Smike is his son. Smike is Snawley’s son by his first marriage. When they separated, the first Mrs Snawley took the boy with her and then claimed he’d died. She only confessed when she was dying that she had sent Smike away to Dotheboys Hall because he was “of weak and imperfect intellect”. Once she was unable to pay his fees she just abandoned him.
Smike refuses to leave. Squeers tries to intervene and Nicholas pushes him into Ralph. As far as Nicholas is concerned Smike doesn’t want to go and therefore he won’t go! Ralph thinks that now there is no chance that Smike is from a comfortable background Nicholas will no longer want Smike around. Ralph, Snawley and Squeers depart – but not before Squeers has taunted Nicholas.
It appears that Frank Cheeryble has taken a shine to our Kate. Poor Smike – I did feel sorry for him at the end of the chapter. He was inconsolable.
Mrs Nickleby is very… ditsy – she reminds me of someone but I can’t think who. Maybe it was someone in a TV show rather than a book? It might come to me. I did chuckle at the following exchange with Nicholas:
“There's a very respectable-looking young man,' added Mrs Nickleby,
after a short consideration, 'who is conductor to one of the omnibuses that
go by here, and who wears a glazed hat—your sister and I have noticed
him very often—he has a wart upon his nose, Kate, you know, exactly
like a gentleman's servant.'
'Have all gentlemen's servants warts upon their noses, mother?' asked Nicholas.
'Nicholas, my dear, how very absurd you are,' returned his mother; 'of courseI mean that his glazed hat looks like a gentleman's servant, and not the
wart upon his nose; though even that is not so ridiculous as it may seem to you,
for we had a footboy once, who had not only a wart, but a wen also, and a very large wen too,
and he demanded to have his wages raised in consequence,
because he found it came very expensive.”
I noticed something else that made me think of Oliver Twist but unfortunately I didn’t highlight it and I can’t remember what it was!
I wonder what information the beggar is imparting to Newman Noggs?! Is he someone who has fallen on hard times as a result of Ralph and if so, what does he know about him?
Ralph really doesn’t have the measure of Nicholas, does he? He believes that Nicholas has only shown an interest in Smike because of the potential of him being related to someone of means. His comment that Nicholas’s sympathy will melt is way off the mark – he’s judging Nicholas by his own standards!!
Again I’m struck by the humour in this novel. I didn’t know much about the story beforehand but I guess I was expecting something bleaker. There is a great contrast of humour and seriousness in this book.
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Thanks, Gaia.
I've only managed two books towards this challenge in 2014. Maybe I'll do better next year? -
Ethiopia - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - 4/5
50 Countries - 21.46%
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I say every year that I'm going to try not to acquire new books but it never happens!
I don't really plan what to read, but I would like to read another Dickens next year - I'm really enjoying Nicholas Nickleby.
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Fantastic review, Alex.
It's a great book! I chose it for Book Club quite a few years ago and then later our group went to see it in the Theatre Royal in Bath. Initially, when I read my programme, my heart sank when I saw the cast list (I won't say exactly why for spoiler reasons, but I'm sure you can guess) because I was sure it wouldn't do the story justice, but I was so pleased to be proved wrong - it was great. Like you, the film left me cold - and I was really cross with the ending too. If I were Susan Hill I'd have been hopping mad!
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Ouch!
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I liked The Woman in Black, Alex. I hope you enjoy it.
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I actually found the chapter with Browdie a little easier to read this time round. I've found this with a few other novels - I struggled with the first few chapters of both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and also The Help by Kathryn Stockett but eventually I seemed to be able to tune into the dialect, so hopefully any future chapters (if they appear again) won't be quite so difficult to follow.
I was surprised about Miss Bobster too - it hadn't occurred to me that Noggs might have got it wrong!
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I have a Kindle, but sadly in the UK library files aren't compatible with it.
I have a Nook too, which I can download library books on to (and have - I forgot about those!). The ones I've had as audiobooks I've listened to on my iPod.
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Lol - I might give him a rendition tomorrow!
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Hmmm - okay. Thanks, Claire.
As I said, I do like the idea of a winter-type book. I might take a second suggestion (no idea what yet - more research required!) and see what she thinks about trying it.
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I've just read up about Neverwhere and it sounds really interesting.
I've enjoyed the three Gaimans I've read so far. I must also say that every time I see your avatar I feel like bursting into song!
I won't do it now though as I have a man here painting the dining room and he might think I'm mad! -
I can only echo what the others have said - it's not silly at all.
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I'm sorry you've not got much time for reading
. I'm glad you're enjoying the James Herriot book, it's on my TBR. I hope you'll have more time for reading soon, it can't be nice . I'm sure Kay will understand that you haven't got around to the book yet, and your other friend too if they are a good friend.They're both good friends so I'm sure they won't mind.
It's just I usually make Christmas books a priority but for some reason I just haven't done so this year. Meant to add that I loved all the Herriot books, read them and saw the BBC series decades ago.
I loved the BBC series.
They were compulsory viewing on a Saturday night in our house from when I was a teen! Interestingly enough (or maybe not interesting at all! 
) although I'm picturing the actors when I'm reading the book, my veterinary practice building and my Darrowby look nothing like the ones used on the show! -
At the beginning of the year I resolved to use my library more - to keep it open as much as anything. However I've only really used it for a few audio books - 4, maybe 5, so I haven't done as well as I hoped. I shall try again in 2015. I do hope the library works out for you.
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My Mum is 77 and she loves her Kindle!
She also likes paper books but they both have a place in her life - and mine come to it. My daughter has my old one and it's made her read when she's not really a reader (she's 17) - so I think Kindles/eReaders are for all ages. -
Okay I think if I continue off-topicing in this thread, Jänet will have a penguin slaughtering dream tonight
No penguin slaughtering dreams, fortunately. Phew!
I know someone on here has read Hollow Frost Hall by Emma Carroll (Claire has, I think). I've had it on my wish list for a long time now (I was attracted to it in Waterstone's due to its beautiful cover!).
I am wondering about suggesting it for my Book Club. It's my turn next so I'll be announcing it to the group next Monday and then we'll be meeting some time in January to discuss it.
I wanted a wintery or Christmas themed book so this seems perfect... however, one of our number really doesn't like ghost stories! She freaked out when I chose The Woman in Black by Susan Hill back in 2009 (I didn't know about her fear back then) - she did manage to finish it but had to read it out in the garden in one sitting on a weekend so her husband was home! She also managed The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, but it was uncomfortable reading for her.
So really I'm wondering... as it's a children's book, just how scary is it? I don't want to pick another book that my friend is going to struggle with, but I'm struggling to think of anything else to choose!
Brian's Book Log 2014
in Past Book Logs
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Orwell is one of my favourite authors so I'm glad you're enjoying him, Brian.
I would agree with Claire that Down and Out in Paris and London is a fantastic read. My favourite fiction is A Clergyman's Daughter.