-
14/02/2015
YoungDickensinlove:sugary,andwaxinglyricalaboutgloves|Books|TheGuardian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/charlesdickensinlovepoetryfirstlovemariabeadnell
1/4
Young Dickens in love: sugary, and waxinglyrical about glovesA
new exhibition explores the faltering relationship between the
novelist and his rst love MariaBeadnell and the resulting,
questionable, poetry
Alison Flood
The earliest known portrait of Charles Dickens, aged 18. Click
here to see the full image. Photograph: Charles DickensMuseum,
London
Friday 13 February 2015 17.47 GMT
A halting acrostic poem, ending with the sugary couplet Life has
no charms, nohappiness, no pleasures, now for me/ Like those I
feel, when tis my lot Maria, to gaze onthee, oers little clue to
the glittering literary career that was to follow. But, 185
yearsafter the 18-year-old Charles Dickens fell in love with Maria
Beadnell, an exhibitionpromises to shed light on his earliest
literary eorts, with a selection of his love poetryon public view
for the rst time.
Dickens was working as a reporter when he fell for the
20-year-old Beadnell in 1830, andpursued her for three years, going
on to immortalise her as the characters of DoraSpenlow in David
Coppereld and Flora Finching in Little Dorrit. The Charles
DickensMuseum in London opens a new exhibition this week featuring
the authors love poemsto Beadnell, including the acrostic poem in
homage to the bankers daughter that is therst known example of his
literary work.
My life may chequered be with scenes of misery and pain, Andt
may be my fate tostruggle with adversity in vain, wrote the young
Dickens in Beadnells album, on displayat the museum. Regardless of
misfortunes tho howeer bitter they may be, I shallalways have one
retrospect, a hallowed one to me, And it will be of that happy
timewhen rst I gazed on thee.
Beadnell seemed enchantingly pretty to him, even with eyebrows
that almost met inthe middle, writes Claire Tomalin in her
acclaimed biography of the author. She was
-
14/02/2015
YoungDickensinlove:sugary,andwaxinglyricalaboutgloves|Books|TheGuardian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/charlesdickensinlovepoetryfirstlovemariabeadnell
2/4
capricious and, to judge by what she later became, silly.
Dickens poem Lodgings to Let, in which the young man states
that, Then I will say sanshesitation/ This place shall be my
habitation/ This charming spot my home shall be/While dear Maria
keeps the key, is being displayed for the rst time as part of
theexhibition. Also on show is the writers lengthy poem The Bill of
Fare, transcribed fromthe original by Beadnells sister Margaret
Lloyd. Dickens, among 360 lines of poetry,compares himself in the
text to a young Summer Cabbage, without any heart; / Notthat hes
heartless, but because, as folks say,/ He lost his a twelve month
ago, from lastMay.
A letter from the time, meanwhile, sees the author wax lyrical
on the topic of gloves,loquaciously insisting that my dear Maria (I
fear I ought to say Miss Beadnell but Ihope you will pardon my
adhering to the manner in which I have been accustomed toaddress
you) must not refuse the gift of a pair. Surely, surely you will
not refuse sotrivial a present: a mere common place trie; a common
present even among the merestfriends. Do not misunderstand me: I am
not desirous by making presents or by doingany other act to inuence
your thoughts, wishes, or feelings in the slightest degree. I donot
think I do: I cannot hope I ever shall: but let me entreat of you
do not refuse soslight a token of regard from me.
The adult Dickens would write to Beadnell years later, in 1855,
revealing again thedepths of his devotion. Whatever of fancy,
romance, energy, passion, aspiration, anddetermination belong to
me, I never have separated and never shall separate from
thehard-hearted little woman you whom it is nothing to say I would
have died for, withthe greatest alacrity! wrote the then successful
author. I never can think, and I neverseem to observe, that other
young people are in such desperate earnest, or set so much,so long,
upon one absorbing hope. It is a matter of perfect certainty to me
that I began toght my way out of poverty and obscurity, with one
perpetual idea of you.
Several letters were exchanged before the two met up; despite
Beadnells warnings thatshe was no longer the young woman Dickens
remembered, the novelist was shocked byher appearance. He wrote to
one of his admirers, the Duke of Devonshire: We have allhad our
Floras, mine is living and extremely fat.
The letters before their meeting were very long, said the
museums curator LouisaPrice; there followed a signicant gap once
the pair had met, and when the lettersbegan again they were very
short and formal. Poor Maria.
Dickens rst love, Maria Beadnell, aged 19 in 1831. Photograph:
Charles Dickens Museum
-
14/02/2015
YoungDickensinlove:sugary,andwaxinglyricalaboutgloves|Books|TheGuardian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/charlesdickensinlovepoetryfirstlovemariabeadnell
3/4
Price said that the lm of The Invisible Woman meant that a great
deal of attention hasbeen paid recently to Dickenss later love
interest, Ellen Ternan. We wanted to highlightthe story of Dickenss
rst love, Maria, to balance this, she said. Dickens pursued
Mariafor three years at a signicant period of his life. He said
himself that she wasinstrumental in helping him raise his
expectations of life and better himself as a man.She inspired the
beloved character of Dora Spenlow in David Coppereld and also
FloraFinching in Little Dorrit some would say, his best comic
character. I think there is astrong case to say we never forget our
rst love.
Price added that there was also the comic element to the duos
story, including theinability of Mrs Beadnell to get Dickenss name
right she would call him Mr Dickin and the fact Dickens was
pursuing Maria at the same time as other men. The novelistwould
later reproach Beadnell for playing him o against other danglers,
said thecurator.
The love poems of Young DickensAcrosticMy life may chequered be
with scenes of misery and pain,Andt may be my fate to struggle with
adversity in vain:Regardless of misfortunes tho howeer bitter they
may be,I shall always have one retrospect, a hallowed one to me,And
it will be of that happy time when rst I gazed on thee.Blighted
hopes, and prospects drear, for me will lose their sting,Endless
troubles shall harm not me, when fancy on the wingA lapse of years
shall travel oer, and again before me castDreams of happy eeting
moments then for ever past:
Not any worldly pleasure has such magic charms for meEen now, as
those short moments spent in company with thee;Life has no charms,
no happiness, no pleasures, now for meLike those I feel, when tis
my lot Maria, to gaze on thee.
Lodgings to LetLodgings here! A charming place,The Owners such a
lovely faceThe Neighbours too seem very prettyLively, sprightly,
gay, and witty
Pages of poems written by Charles Dickens in the album of Maria
Beadnell. Photograph: Charles Dickens Museum, London
-
14/02/2015
YoungDickensinlove:sugary,andwaxinglyricalaboutgloves|Books|TheGuardian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/charlesdickensinlovepoetryfirstlovemariabeadnell
4/4
Of all the spots that I could ndThis is the place to suit my
mind.
Then I will say sans hesitationThis place shall be my
habitationThis charming spot my home shall beWhile dear Maria keeps
the key,Ill settle here, no more Ill roamBut make this place my
happy home.
A great advantage too will be,I shall keep such good company,So
good that I fear my composingWill be considered very prosingStill
Im most proud amongst these pickingsTo rank the humblest name.
Charles Dickens
(Reproduced by courtesy of Charles Dickens Museum, London)
The exhibition will run at the Charles Dickens Museum, London,
until 19 April.