The Dickens Fellowship, founded in 1902, is a worldwide association of people who share an interest in the life and works of Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870). For more information about our organisation visit the organisation page.

For the latest news and comment, please refer to Household Words at the lower left of this page. Use the Search Box in the upper right to enter a word or phrase to search the entire site.

Message from the President

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Dickens Fellowship will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday 29 June 2013 at La Faiencerie, Boulogne-sur-Mer during the Dickens Fellowship conference.  The Notice of the AGM has been sent to the Secretary of each branch and will be included in the next issue of the London Particular, as required by paragraph X of Part B of the Constitution.  That Notice is also available here, together with the agenda of the meeting.

Broadstairs Dickens Festival – Saturday 15th June – Friday 21st June

Broadstairs Dickens Festival – Saturday 15th June – Friday 21st June.  Featuring the Festival Play – A Tale of Two Cities – at the Memorial Theatre.

  • Sunday 16th June – Lucinda Hawksley will talk about Dickens and Italy.  Lucinda is the great-great-great granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Her biography of Kate Perugini: Charles Dickens’ Favourite Daughter: The Life, Loves, and Art of Katey Dickens Perugini has been fully updated and will be available on 2 July.   
  • Monday 17th June – Gerald Dickens will perform his one man show.
  • Tuesday 18th June – Professor Michael Slater will talk on the Great Charles Dickens Scandal.
  • Wednesday 19th June – Dr Tony Williams will talk on Dickens and Kent.
  • Thursday 20th June – An evening walk in the footsteps of Dickens and a tour of the Dickens House Museum. Cost £5.

Annual Conference 2013

Boulogne sur merThe Boulogne Branch of the Dickens Fellowship invites you to the 107th International Dickens Fellowship Conference, which will take place in Boulogne sur Mer from 26 June to 1 July 2013. For more information about the town of Boulogne visit http://www.ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr/

 

Delegates have the option of an additional day trip to Le Touquet on 1 July.

The programme of activities and the booking form are now available. 

Boz in Oz

From James Murray, chair,Dickens Fellowship:

"I was delighted and fascinated to read Boz in Oz, the annual newsletter of the New South Wales Dickens Society and have  asked the President, Michelle Cavanagh,for  permission to place the whole issue on the Fellowship website..

This note is to let you know that the branch has agreed to this and if you follow the link below you will b e to see not only what our friends in Oz have been doing but  also to read
a fascinating collection of articles about the work  and legacy of Charles Dickens.

Tour of Gad's Hill Place

A young Charles Dickens and his father often walked to Gad’s Hill in Kent. In later life Charles Dickens bought Gad's Hill Place and lived there until his death in 1870. Whilst living at Gad’s Hill Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Our Mutual friend, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished) You can now visit Dickens’ house and enjoy a tour of the premises by one of the Dickens Fellowship or Trust Guides. There are three tours available - 1PM, 2.15PM and 3.30PM and includes tea & cake. The cost is £7.50 and takes place on the following Sundays; 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 Aug & 1 Sept 2013.  Gad’s Hill Place currently houses a working school. Booking and advanced payment is essential, call Gravesend Visitor Centre on 01474 337 600 to book.

The Secret World of Charles Dickens

Dickens MagicIan Keable presents

THE SECRET WORLD OF CHARLES DICKENS: mirth, marvels and the mysterious

Charles Dickens was not only one of the world’s greatest writers but also a talented conjurer, fascinated by spiritualism and ghosts. In this humorous and mystifying show, Ian Keable reveals this secret side of Dickens and recreates his favourite tricks and the spooky practises of the Victorian psychics.

This Web Site is dedicated to the late Martha Rosso

A member of the Philadelphia Branch for over 35 years, Martha Rosso (née Pamplin) was one of the Fellowship's most dynamic and best loved figures. She contributed unstintingly to its business right to the very end of her life. Click here to read more about Martha Rosso.