Charles Dicken's England
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.That a documentary about the most exuberant comic novelist who ever lived should be quite so plodding as this is really a cause for shame.
Derek Jacobi, gurning like a pantomime dame, takes us on a tour not only of every surviving house where Dickens lived or stayed but of every landmark – from Broadstairs to London, from Barnard Castle to the Isle of Wight – that he included in the novels. The life was full and fascinating, yet the banal interviews, the inept reaction shots and the clunky observations contrive to make it seem dull. Cut it by an hour and it could be a good and useful introduction to Dickens for English GCSE students, but in its present form this has no place on a cinema screen anywhere.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments