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Dickens' Secret Geneva Trip Revealed in Fan Letter
21 Feb
Summary
- Dickens wrote an 1863 letter to Pauline Viardot suggesting dinner.
- The letter mentioned a secret trip to Geneva to meet his mistress.
- An exhibition explores women who influenced Dickens' writing.
A recently displayed fan letter from Charles Dickens to opera singer Pauline Viardot offers a glimpse into the author's private life. Written in 1863, the letter suggests a dinner meeting with Viardot while also alluding to a covert journey to Geneva.
During this secret trip, Dickens intended to meet Ellen Ternan, with whom he maintained a long-term affair. The letter is now a highlight of an exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum.
The exhibition delves into the lives of women who inspired Dickens' writing and social endeavors. One such initiative was Urania Cottage, a refuge co-founded with banking heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts to support women at risk of exploitation.
Curator Kirsty Parsons suggests that Dickens' interactions with these women, particularly those from challenging backgrounds, enriched his character portrayals. This influence is evident in his later works, such as 'Little Dorrit,' which feature more complex female characters compared to earlier works.
