Original manuscript of Bleak House and the East Wind, by Charles Dickens, vol. 8
Manuscript
1852-1853 (written)
1852-1853 (written)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the original manuscript of Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1853. Dickens gave the manuscript to his close friend and biographer, John Forster (1812–76) who was a noted critic, essayist and historian. During his life, Forster collected a vast library which included most manuscripts of Dickens’s novels. He bequeathed this collection to his wife until her death; whereupon it would pass to what was then the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899), so that it could be used by the nation. The manuscripts Forster bequeathed continue to be an invaluable resource to scholars and researchers, providing information about Dickens’s creative process.
Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes.
Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Title | Original manuscript of Bleak House and the East Wind, by Charles Dickens, vol. 8 (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Manuscript, Bleak House and the East Wind, by Charles Dickens, vol. 8 (ff. 555-631), England, 1852-53. |
| Physical description | 631 leaves, bound in eight volumes Collation: v.1 (1-82), v.2 (83-175), v.3 (176-240), v.4 (241-334), v.5 (335-398), v.6 (399-491), v.7 (492-554), v.8 (555-631). At beginning of v.1 various title pages ; headings and memorandums for chapters at begnning of vols. 1 and 2 and throughout both vols. At end of volume 2 dated "London, August 1853." Previously bound in 4 volumes, then rebound in 1993 in brown morocco half leather with marbled papers over boards, in drop back solander boxes. Written mainly in iron-gall, with some sections in blue ink. Some leaves have cancelled text on versos. The writing paper is made up of 'Large Post' folio sheets that have been folded into bifolios, producing a 'Large Post' quarto, which were then torn in half by Dickens, mostly before writing. All manuscript leaves therefore have one torn side. |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Charles Dickens to his friend John Forster; bequeathed by John Forster to the Museum in 1876. |
| Summary | This is the original manuscript of Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1853. Dickens gave the manuscript to his close friend and biographer, John Forster (1812–76) who was a noted critic, essayist and historian. During his life, Forster collected a vast library which included most manuscripts of Dickens’s novels. He bequeathed this collection to his wife until her death; whereupon it would pass to what was then the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899), so that it could be used by the nation. The manuscripts Forster bequeathed continue to be an invaluable resource to scholars and researchers, providing information about Dickens’s creative process. Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes. |
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| Bibliographic reference | Low, A., 'The conservation of Charles Dickens's manuscripts', Paper conservator, vol. 18, 1994, pp. 5-9. |
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| Collection | |
| Library number | MSL/1876/Forster/162/8 |
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| Record created | February 21, 2022 |
| Record URL |
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