Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥
Dominic Gerrard
Actor Dominic Gerrard hosts an exciting new series that explores the Life and Times of Charles Dickens: his extraordinary novels, who he was as a person, his career as a performer, and his activism. Guests include: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Armando Iannucci, Alice Loxton, Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Lucinda Hawksley, John Mullan, Pen Vogler, Andrew Davies, Rosie Holt, Bernard Cornwell .... and many more academics, writers, actors, directors and descendants of the great man himself! Along side these interviews there are special Dickens readings from across his works ...Thank you for listening 🔥
A Tour of 48 Doughty Street: with Jordan Evans-Hill
Send us a textToday’s episode is A Tale of Two Podcasts where Dominic teams up with Jordan Evans-Hill: creator and host of the Charles Dickens Museum’s Inimitable podcast.Here Jordan takes the listener on a tour inside number 48 Doughty St - the house where Dickens lived and worked as he completed Pickwick, wrote the entirety of Oliver Twist & Nicholas Nickleby and began Barnaby Rudge …Jordan is a former footman from the Royal Household where he served the late Queen Elizabeth II. He is also a w
Feb 7, • 32:49
A Jane Austen Year ...
Send us a textDominic has helped create a sister podcast to mark the 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen's birth!A Jane Austen Year is told by the people that work at Jane Austen’s House - the idyllic Hampshire cottage, in the south of England, where Jane Austen wrote her world famous novels.On the first of every month a new episode of letters, scenes from the novels, recipes & talks about the objects in the house, will be published.And every sound you hear - including the birds - were recorded in
Jan 10, • 1:00
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Part Two) 📚 : with John Bowen
Send us a textWelcome to Part Two of Dominic and John Bowen's journey through A Christmas Carol ...With readings again from Hollie Hales and violin parts performed by Alexis Bennett.HAPPY CHRISTMAS !!! Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Dec 28, 2024 • 52:41
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Part One) 📚 : with John Bowen
Send us a textIt’s Christmas Eve, and Dominic takes a deep dive with you all through A Christmas Carol. Returning to the series is the inimitable Prof. John Bowen (who recently worked on David Edgar’s Carol adaptation for the RSC) and who like many of us, re-reads this ghostly little book every Christmas and has pondered its power and meaning for decades.The Carol Philosophy that Dickens expresses so generously in this story is truly universal: everyone has a chance to change and not be fixed, o
Dec 24, 2024 • 55:04
'What Brutal Hand …?': with Lydia Craig
Send us a text*This episode focuses on the theme of domestic violence* Dominic shares a bonus fragment from his last interview with Dr. Lydia Craig on The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain ...It is a moment in the story where Redlaw comes across ‘a woman sitting on the stairs, either asleep or forlorn’ and ‘whose head’ is ‘bent down on her hands and knees.’ Redlaw sees that her arms are ‘black, her face cut, and her bosom bruised.’It’s a deeply powerful, moment in the story, that reveals Dicke
Dec 24, 2024 • 4:40
THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN 📚 : with Lydia Craig
Send us a textTodays episode is on Dickens’ final Christmas Book The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. A deeply powerful story, where the chemist, Stephen Redlaw is offered the chance to forget all his painful memories by a Phantom who is a ghastly copy of himself drawn from the shadows in his study. Redlaw accepts the ghost’s bargain … but then faces a desperate struggle to have this spell lifted again, when to his horror he discovers that his new gift has a 'King Midas' quality of infecting
Dec 13, 2024 • 54:05
The Christmas Illustrations: with Lucinda Hawksley
Send us a textThis episode marks the 3rd birthday of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥 In this first Christmas episode for 2024 Dominic is joined again by the critically acclaimed author, broadcaster, and art-historian Lucinda Hawksley. And as they return to Dickens’ Christmas books their focus this time is on the illustrations found in each of them.Many of you will of course be familiar with the name of John Leech, who’s images for A Christmas Carol are now inseparable from Scrooge’s story,
Dec 7, 2024 • 48:20
CHRISTMAS IS COMING !!! ☃️🎩⛓️🎄👻
Welcome to CHRISTMAS at Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥The very first of our special Festive will go live shortly ...And If you’re new to this series, there are some incredible episodes already waiting for you to listen to. Interviews with leading actors, academics, writers, historians, and descendants of the great man him self!Guests such as: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Armando Iannucci, Rosie Holt, John Mullan, Lucinda Hawksley, Robert Douglas Fairhurst, Andrew Davies & Alice Loxton …
Nov 30, 2024 • 0:50
(rough) GEORGE SILVERMAN'S EXPLANATION 📚: with Emily Bell
Ever wondered how Charles Dickens, one of the most celebrated writers in the English language, managed to portray such profound insights about poverty and psychological trauma in a much lesser-known work? Emily and I are diving into that seldom-explored territory as we dissect George Silverman's Explanation and how Dickens' own experiences color the narrative. We also discuss the intriguing proto-modernist opening of the story and its impact on our understanding of the plot.From the young protag
Nov 24, 2024 • 38:25
The Gordon Riots: with Ian Haywood
Dominic is joined today by the inimitable Professor Ian Heywood, of the Centre for Inclusive Humanties at the University of Roehampton. Together they delve into the astonishing 'Riots of Eighty' that gripped London for a week and were brought thrillingly to life in Dickens' Barnaby Rudge ...Ian is a specialist in the radical politics and visual culture of the period of 1750-1850, and has published extensively on that period in books such as Bloody Romanticism: Spectacular Violence and The Politi
Jun 4, 2024 • 50:48
DROOD ...📚 And Our Endless Attempts To End It: with Pete Orford
Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Dr. Pete Orford for Part II of his examination of The Mystery of Edwin Drood ... Pete’s book Edwin Drood: Charles Dickens’ Unfinished Novel And Our Endless Attempts To End It … (Pen & Sword books) is our guide throughout. It is a hugely entertaining read where scholarly citations and tomfoolery combine with vibrant illustrations by Alys Jones … there is a link purchase this in the description.And reading extracts today, it is an honour to welcome the fan
May 15, 2024 • 40:34
Beyond Realism: Online Symposium 17th May ... with Dr. Céleste Callen
This Friday 17th May listeners can join an online symposium Charles Dickens: Beyond Realism ... hosted by the Centre For Nineteenth Century Studies & Dr. Céleste CallenThe link to register is here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=i9hQcmhLKUW-RNWaLYpvlGP-wSu2R1JFpVjsNyCAKKVURjI2MkFVUDRGNDBBODBEVEQ4RzNUV1RaOS4uChair and Guest Speakers include:Kirsten MillsEmily VincentJohn BowenJonathan WildCéleste CallenLara VirreyChris LouttitAmy ColesClaire WoodAmy WatersonAndrew SmithMadel
May 13, 2024 • 3:04
Mrs Dickens: with Emily Howes
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Emily Howes, author of The Painters Daughters, who is currently writing her second book, Mrs Dickens, all about the life of Catherine Hogarth and her marriage to Charles Dickens … Emily is an alumna of Cambridge University, where she was a member of the famous Footlights. After gaining a First in English, she studied Lecoq at the London School of Performing Arts. She then went on to create work for theatre, radio and television. Highlights including two serie
Apr 11, 2024 • 36:18
London Tide: with Ben Power
Dominic meets Ben Power backstage at London’s National Theatre who takes a break from rehearsals to talk about London Tide - an exciting new staging of Our Mutual Friend - which he has adapted with songs composed by the award-winning PJ HarveyBen is a Tony Award winning, and a BAFTA & Olivier Award nominated writer for stage and screen, and an Associate here at the National. His adaptation of The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sam Mendes, has become an international theatrical juggernaut, playing
Apr 4, 2024 • 29:31
NEW EPISODES FOR 2024 !!! 🔥
A new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥 will launch on Friday 5th April ...The first episode takes place deep inside London’s Royal National Theatre, mid-rehearsal, for London Tide - an exciting new adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, co-written by Ben Power and PJ Harvey.Previous series guests include: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Armando Iannucci, Lucinda Hawksley, Andrew Davies, Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Alice Loxton, John Mullan and many many more …Support the Show.If you like to
Mar 23, 2024 • 1:14
NEW EPISODES FOR 2024 !!! 🔥
A new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥 will launch on Friday 5th April ...The first episode takes place deep inside London’s Royal National Theatre, mid-rehearsal, for London Tide … an exciting new adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, co-written by Ben Power and PJ Harvey.Previous series guests: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Armando Iannucci, Lucinda Hawksley, Andrew Davies, Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Alice Loxton, John Mullan and many many more …Support the showIf you like to make a
Mar 23, 2024 • 1:14
"The Haunted Man" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Andrews
Our final festive extract comes from Dickens’ last Christmas Book The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain - read today by the fantastic actor Tom AndrewsTom’s screen credits include: This England (for Revolution films & Sky Atlantic), Netflix’s The Strays, Feelgood & Afterlife; HBO’S I Hate Susie and the BBC’s Show Trial … His stage work includes the Royal National Theatre production of Major Barbara and The Accidental Death of an Anarchist in London’s West EndIn the following scene Dr Redlaw -
Jan 2, 2024 • 9:28
“The Battle of Life” (Excerpt): Read by Rebecca Tanwen
Happy 6th Day of Christmas! Today’s guest is the wonderful Rebecca Tanwen reading for us the opening pages of Dickens’ 4th Christmas book The Battle of Life …The story opens with a wide shot of an ancient battle ground, where the traces of the fight have lingered through the centuries, not only in the earth but in the minds of the generations that have lived afterwards. The narrative works its way through a kind of time-lapse describing the changing seasons over many decades before settling on a
Dec 30, 2023 • 11:45
"The Cricket on the Hearth" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Bennett
Happy 5th Day of Christmas!The fantastic actor Tom Bennett reads an excerpt from Dickens’ third Christmas book The Cricket on the Hearth …Caleb Plummer and his daughter Bertha are poor toymakers in the service of the cruel, miserly Tackleton. As the scene unfolds we learn that Caleb’s daughter Bertha is blind, and that her father is constantly trying to shield her from the hardship and poverty of their lives … meanwhile even their poor hearth is visited by a cricket that may yet bring good fortu
Dec 29, 2023 • 13:14
"The Chimes" (Excerpt): Read by Carlyss Peer
The wonderful actress Carlyss Peer returns to the series to read an excerpt from Dickens' second Christmas Book The Chimes You'll be transported to Trotty's humble abode, feeling the chill of the London streets and the welcoming embrace of his heart as he opens his home to strangers, reminding us of the transformative power of kindness and community. Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeaco
Dec 23, 2023 • 11:38
Christmas Carols: with Harry Christophers & The Sixteen
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Harry Christophers CBE , founder and conductor of The Sixteen, one of the worlds most revered choral ensembles. With thanks to CORO for these stunning Christmas excerpts:Carol of the Bells Apple / Spotify Pilgrim Jesus Apple / SpotifyOf a Rose Apple / Spotify This Have I Done ... Apple / Spotify Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming Apple / SpotifyO Radix Jesse Apple / Spotify Past Three a Clock Apple / Spotify For unto us ... Apple / Spotify Amen ... Apple / Spo
Dec 21, 2023 • 52:28
"The Holly Tree" (Excerpt): Read by Chris Nayak
The wonderful actor Chris Nayak reads the from the First Branch of The Holly-Tree Inn - one of Dickens' rarer Christmas stories … Packed with self-deprecating humour, a fantastic snowy atmosphere, this a very pleasing festive narrative. Chris’ stage credits include King Duncan in Macbeth at the Globe this year, and previously the RSC and West End. His screen work includes Coronation Street and We Hunt Together …So sit back an enjoy this opening excerpt from The Holly Tree Inn Support the Show.
Dec 20, 2023 • 13:47
A Dickensian Christmas Dinner: with Pen Vogler
Dominic is joined by the wonderful award winning food historian Pen Vogler who returns to the podcast to talk about Dickensian Christmas Dinners ...Focusing on Dickens' five Christmas books - A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man - Pen explores what the characters eat and why. From the Cratchit children 'basking in luxurious thoughts of sage and onion'; Trotty and Meg sharing a dish of a tripe outside on the steps; Edward and May’s we
Dec 20, 2023 • 40:43
"A Christmas Carol" Stave One (Excerpt) : Read by Rosie Holt
Award-winning actress, comedian, and satirist Rosie Holt returns to the series to read the opening of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on the 180th anniversary of its publication today in 1843 ...Rosie makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 4 and as a satirist her work is so powerful that half the country seem to think she’s an actual Conservative Member of Parliament. This is both hilarious and deeply worrying. Her podcast, NONCENSORED with Eshaan Akbar and Brendan Murphy, was nominated for a
Dec 19, 2023 • 11:20
The Lost Portrait: with Emma Rutherford
Dominic’s guest today is the inimitable Emma Rutherford who recalls her time working on the rediscovery of a lost portrait of Dickens, painted by Margaret Gillies in 1843, and lost for over a century until its serendipitous reappearance at a South African auction. A pivotal snapshot of Dickens' life, the portrait's story hints at the profound bond between Gillies and Dickens, a bond that may have helped shape A Christmas CarolEmma is an art historian, with a specialisation in portrait miniatures
Dec 19, 2023 • 39:56
"Christmas at Dingley Dell": Read by Gina Beck
Light up your holiday season with the enchanting narration of our guest, the brilliant Gina Beck as she transports us to the charm and warmth of a festive journey from Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers in a way that is sure to stir the Christmas spirit in you. Gina has been a star of London’s West End for nearly two decades playing the leads in Matlida, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked & Les Miserables. Right now she can be seen in the current season of The Crown on Netflix.Reading adapted from C
Dec 18, 2023 • 11:26
"CHRISTMAS IS COMING" !
Welcome to Christmas at Charles Dickens a Brain on Fire!At midnight tonight - London time - the very first of our special Christmas episodes will go live. And If you’re new to this series, there are some incredible episodes already waiting for you to listen to. Interviews with leading actors, academics, writers, historians, and descendants of the great man him self!Guests such as: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Armando Iannucci, Rosie Holt, John Mullan, Lucinda Hawksley, Robert Douglas Fairhurst
Dec 17, 2023 • 0:51
Charles Ignatius Sancho: with Paterson Joseph
The award-winning actor and writer Patterson Joseph takes the listener on a fascinating journey into the captivating life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, an African man who found favour among the highest reaches of 18th-century British society, and who had a front-row seat to the infamous Gordon Riots of 1780 ...Sharing the inspiration behind his thrilling novel -The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho-Paterson shares his unique writing processes, heavily influenced by Dickens' immersive cha
Dec 15, 2023 • 50:20
Palimpsest: with Céleste Callen
Celeste Callen returns to share her insights on how Henri Bergson's theories of the 'superficial self' and the 'mechanical man' permeate through Dickens' novels such as The Signal-Man, Bleak House, Hard Times, The Chimes, and Master Humphrey's Clock Celeste Callen holds a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from King's College London and an MSc in Enlightenment, Romantic and Victorian Literature from the University of Edinburgh. She is a third year PhD candidate in English Literatur
Dec 13, 2023 • 25:16
The Haunted Actor: with James Swanton
Dominic is joined by the inimitable James Swanton who is performing A Christmas Carol, The Chimes and Haunted Man in person this year at the Dickens Museum. And for those of you listening outside the UK you can watch a live stream of his Haunted Man - filmed inside number 48 Doughty Street - on the 11th December.James read English at Selwyn College Cambridge. Since graduating his acting credits include Sikes and Nancy at London’s Trafalgar Studios, Irving Undead and this years’ upcoming BBC Gho
Dec 2, 2023 • 47:00
Stuffed (A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain): with Pen Vogler
Dominic is joined by the award-winning author and food historian Pen Vogler who offers insightful reflections on how Charles Dickens used food as complex metaphors in his novels, that reflect the psychological and societal shifts during the Victorian era. The richly detailed food descriptions in works like A Christmas Carol and Little Dorrit reflect not just the era's celebrated dining etiquettes but sometimes Dickens' own discomfort in these settings.From Pen's new book Stuffed there's also a
Nov 27, 2023 • 31:24
The Gunpowder Plot (from 'A Child's History of England') 📚 : Read by Dominic Gerrard
Host Dominic Gerrard reads Dickens' account of The Gunpowder Plot from his 1851 A Child's History of England ...Dickens transports back us to 1605, the era of King James I, Guy Fawkes and a conspiracy that shook the nation.This compelling narrative is a tribute to November 5th, a date that continues to resonate through the annals of history. Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/
Nov 5, 2023 • 19:31
Charles and Catherine: with Helena Kelly
It is Publication Eve for today’s guest the inimitable Dr. Helena Kelly. Her latest book The Life & Lies of Charles Dickens (published by Icon Books) lifts the cover on what we think we know about Dickens from his friend and sanctioned biographer John Forster.In this episode we try to spend some time with Dickens’ wife Catherine, and understand the enormous struggles they both went through: when Charles’ genius sent their lives into the stratosphere, right from the very start of their marriage
Nov 1, 2023 • 25:50
THE SIGNAL-MAN 📚: with John Bowen
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Professor John Bowen who returns to this series to explore the hidden depths beneath the pages of one of Dickens' most iconic ghost stories -The Signal-ManWritten only a year after Dickens survived the Staplehurst Rail Crash, The Signal-Man finds an author grappling with trauma and the conflicted feelings of fear and wonder at the new railways, mixed with a desperate yearning to know in advance where danger lies …Reading excerpts from the haunting tale is the
Oct 26, 2023 • 42:04
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES 📚: with Dr. Emily Bell
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Dr. Emily Bell who guides the listener through the rollercoaster that is Charles Dickens & Wilkie Collins' Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices - a unique blend of travel writing and ghost stories seen through the eyes of the quintessentially British characters of Francis Goodchild and Thomas Idle, who amusingly mirror their creators, Dickens and CollinsThis eccentric collection contains within its pages two fantastic ghosts stories - The Dead Hand & The Ghost
Oct 19, 2023 • 51:28
The Shorthand Mysteries: with Dr. Claire Wood & Prof. Hugo Bowles
Are you an unsung codebreaker? Does your knowledge and feel for Dickens mean that you could be the next person to crack some of the hieroglyphic mystery of the shorthand system that Dickens created for himself. Or are you able to trace the source of the writings that Dickens read from whilst dictating to his pupil Arthur Stone …?A year ago Dominic caught up with Dr. Claire Wood & Prof. Hugo Bowles on their extraordinary Dickens Code project. Since they last spoke, Claire and Hugo have not only
Oct 12, 2023 • 31:44
Copperfield, Chuzzlewit ... Partridge? : with Armando Iannucci
Welcome to this special one-on-one chat with Armando Iannucci - one of the leading comedy writers and political satirists of our time - where we delve into his literary passions and influences. This lively conversation peels back the layers of Armando's lifelong love of Charles Dickens - Martin Chuzzlewit in particular -and his interest in John Milton's masterpiece Paradise Lost and how these literary giants have left an indelible mark on his work. How he would later go on to write, produce and
Sep 29, 2023 • 41:50
Dickens, Bergson & Time Travel: with Céleste Callen
What does it mean to experience time? Is it a linear journey from past to present, or is it a complex and intricate web of memories, feelings, and experiences? Our guest today is the inimitable Céleste Callen, from The University of Edinburgh, who delves into her thesis that explores subjective temporal experience in Dickens’ fiction, through the lens of Henri Bergson’s philosophy of time.This episode explores Bergson's seminal works: Time and Free Will & Matter and Memory and Dickens' Christ
Sep 21, 2023 • 1:09:31
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 📚: with Pete Orford
Welcome to a new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire!🔥Today we take a deep dive into Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood …Joining us to talk about this extraordinary book, is the inimitable Dr Pete Orford who is a Lecturer in English Literature, and Course Director for the MA research in Charles Dickens, at the University of Buckingham.Pete has written extensively on Shakespeare, Dickens but also Terry Pratchet, Philip Pulman and JK Rowling. With contributions t
Sep 14, 2023 • 1:21:02
Happy Holidays !!!
Charles Dickens: A Brain On Fire! 🔥 will return on Friday 15th September with more exciting guests.Thank you for all your support, and if you would like to rate this series please award us some stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on whichever platform you listen to us on!Have a wonderful Summer!DominicSupport the showIf you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna Gib
Jul 15, 2023 • 0:32
Dickens' Handwriting: with Emma Bache
What if their scribbles on paper could reveal intimate details about a person’s character, personality, and even their health? Charles Dickens, one of the greatest authors in the annals of literature, is under the microscope in this riveting conversation with Emma Bache, one of the UK's top graphologists.Emma offers her expert analysis on Dickens' handwriting, hinting at revelations that range from potential bisexuality, to insights into his tumultuous relationships with women. From the youthful
Jun 30, 2023 • 55:35
Paul Dombey's Wallpaper: with J.M. Varese
What do luxurious wallpapers, deadly poison, and supernatural elements have in common? Join host Dominic Gerrard for a captivating conversation with novelist and literary historian Jon Michael Varese as we unravel the mysteries of his latest novel, The Company. Set in 1870, this gothic tale follows the Braithwhite family as they grapple with the shocking discovery of a poisonous pigment in their wallpaper business. Jon shares his inspirations for this riveting story and how it mirrors modern iss
Jun 23, 2023 • 41:57
The Mega Dickens Readalong: with Katie Lumsden
Dominic welcomes the brilliant writer Katie Lumsden back to the podcast. Katie's debut novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, published by Penguin's Random House, is now out in the shops (both sides of the Atlantic) and ready to be a part of your summer reading.Katie has also launched a The Mega Dickens Readalong, where you the listener are all invited to read all of Dickens’ novels in chronological order, so in this episode she shares her impressions of the first five books that have been read b
Jun 3, 2023 • 50:00
Bleak Health: with Nicholas Cambridge
Dominic is joined by Dr. Nicholas Cambridge who is an Honorary Research Fellow in Humanities at the University of Buckingham and a visiting scholar in Medical Humanities at Nova Scotia’s Dalhousie University. After qualifying as an electrical engineer, Nicholas switched career to became a GP and as a medical student won the first ever History of Medicine Prize from the Royal Society Medicine. He then worked for 25 years as a family Doctor in Surrey (in the south of England), but that prize he wo
May 19, 2023 • 46:15
Biddy: with Laurie Ogden
Dominic is joined by the brilliant actress, poet & playwright Laurie Ogden. Together they talk about her experience filming her TV debut as Biddy in FX's Great Expectations ...Laurie's poetry collection Humaning is available to purchase here: Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank y
Apr 26, 2023 • 22:21
OLIVER TWIST 📚: with Emily Bell
Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Emily Bell who digs deep into Dickens’ second novel: Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy’s Progress …Emily is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities & Digital Skills at the University of Leeds; and is an alumna of both the University of Warwick (where she read English) and York where she completed her MA and Phd. She is also Editor of The Dickensian and is a researcher and consultant on programmes such the BBC’s Horrible Histories and Homeschool History …In this ep
Apr 11, 2023 • 1:02:35
Dickens Re-imagined: with Steven Knight
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Steven Knight who's exciting and daring screenplays include Peaky Blinders, Taboo and SAS Rogue Heroes. Steven also adapted the dark and thrilling FX A Christmas Carol (with Guy Pearce as Scrooge) and has now re-imagined Great Expectations in a new series led by Olivia Colman. Now screening on Hulu in the US and BBC One in the UK. Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here htt
Mar 30, 2023 • 25:46
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." A Tale of Two Cities (Chapter One): Read by Dominic Gerrard
Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of A Tale of Two Cities ... Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Mar 24, 2023 • 7:11
Great Adaptations: with Harry Lloyd
Dominic is joined by the inimitable actor and Dickens descendant Harry Lloyd. Together they discuss their first impressions of FX’s new Great Expectations and Harry's experience of playing Dickens characters in previous BBC dramatisations of his Great Great Great Grandfather's works, and his career more widely.The copyright for this specific episode is owned by FX Networks.Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right h
Mar 17, 2023 • 41:34
UPROAR! with Alice Loxton
Dominic is joined by the inimitable broadcaster & historian Alice Loxton who takes us on a journey into the frenzied and scandalous world of London society in the Georgian Period ...Alice is a celebrated presenter on History Hit and her new book UPROAR! takes a look at the movers and shakers of the time as seen through the eyes of caricaturists such as James Gillray, Thomas Rowlandson & Isaac CruikshankYou can also follow Alice on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok Support the Show.If you like to m
Mar 3, 2023 • 48:00
THE BATTLE OF LIFE 📚: with Katie Lumsden
It's the 10th Day of Christmas ... and Dominic is joined by the brilliant writer Katie Lumsden where they attempt to examine, with fresh eyes, Dickens' long forgotten Christmas Book The Battle of Life ... An alumna of both Durham & Bath Spa Universities, her debut novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall - set in 1852 - is now available to pre-order here. Katie also hosts the hugely successful Youtube channel Books and Things where she examines in detail the mountains of literature she reads her way
Jan 3, 2023 • 40:34
Pip's Christmas Dinner: Read by Dominic Gerrard
Dominic reads a Christmas Day excerpt from Chapter IV of Great Expectations where Pip has to sit through the ordeal of a Christmas Dinner with a heavy conscience ...HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Dec 25, 2022 • 14:39
"Come in! and know me better man!" A Christmas Carol (Excerpt): Read by Dominic Gerrard
It's Christmas Eve! And Dominic reads an excerpt from Stave III of A Christmas Carol ... Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Dec 24, 2022 • 10:55
THE GOBLINS WHO STOLE A SEXTON 📚(Then Wrote a Carol & Rang A New Year In!) with Claire Wood
Dominic is joined by the wonderful Dr. Claire Wood again for a special Christmas episode on Charles Dickens' The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton; A Christmas Carol and The Chimes ...Reading extracts from these stories is the brilliant actor Tom Andrews ...HAPPY CHRISTMAS!! Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna Gibert
Dec 21, 2022 • 1:10:56
A Christmas Carol (Live Stream): TONIGHT 6.30pm (GMT)
Celebrate the 179th Birthday of A Christmas Carol tonight - with a live stream of Dominic's magical adaptation filmed inside the Dickens Museum, 6.30pm (GMT): https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/virtual-show-dominic-gerrards-a-christmas-carolDirected by the award-winning Tim Carroll (Globe/West End) and Performed by acclaimed actor Dominic Gerrard (RSC/West End). With puppetry created by Mandarava and Violin sections performed by Alexis Bennett“What a gorgeous Carol … Don’t miss this bri
Dec 19, 2022 • 1:04
A Christmas Carol Live Stream: Monday 19th December 6.30pm (GMT)
Join Dominic for a live stream of his adaptation of A Christmas Carol on Monday 19th December at 6.30pm (GMT): https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/virtual-show-dominic-gerrards-a-christmas-carolDirected by the award-winning Tim Carroll (Globe/West End) and Performed by acclaimed actor Dominic Gerrard (RSC/West End). With puppetry created by Mandarava and Violin sections performed by Alexis Bennett“What a gorgeous Carol … Don’t miss this brilliant young actor.”Miriam Margolyes “It’s all ab
Dec 17, 2022 • 1:00
A CHRISTMAS CAROL & Other Christmas Books📚: with Robert Douglas Fairhurst
Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Robert Douglas Fairhurst who returns to this series to explore Dickens' five iconic Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life & The Haunted Man ...Robert's latest book Metamorphosis: A Life in Pieces is available to order hereHappy Christmas! Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominic
Dec 12, 2022 • 57:15
Rose Theatre A Christmas Carol: with Morgan Lloyd Malcolm
Dominic is joined by the brilliant Morgan Lloyd Malcolm: who’s writing for stage and screen includes her pivotal play Emilia - which won three Olivier Awards when it transferred from Shakespeare’s Globe to the West End - and a soon to be released adaptation of Josephine Hart’s Damage for Moonage, Gaumont & NetflixAs a writer Morgan also works extensively with Clean Break: a feminist theatre company that engages and empowers women who have either experience of the criminal justice system or are a
Dec 5, 2022 • 45:19
HARD TIMES 📚: with Gage McWeeny
Dominic is joined by Gage Mcweeny, who is Professor of English at Williams College, Massachusetts. Gage is an alumni of both Columbia and Princeton, with a specialism in nineteenth-century literature; sociology; and culture. His book The Comfort of Strangers: Social Life and Literary Form (OUP) examines that Victorian phenomenon of new people emerging everywhere in the Great Cities as Industrialisation takes its hold in the 19th Century and how authors such as George Eliot, Oscar Wilde, Henry J
Nov 21, 2022 • 1:01:51
"Implacable November weather ..." Bleak House Chapter One: Read by Dominic Gerrard
Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of Bleak House ... Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Nov 11, 2022 • 17:20
Hulks, Convicts & Reform: with Anna McKay
Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Anna Mckay who is a social and cultural historian who specialises in both 18th & 19th Century British Maritime history and the methods of confinement that were practised throughout that period. Anna's research has taken her to historic prisoner of war depots and penal colonies across the world. She has also undertaken archival research in the UK, Australia, Bermuda and Canada. Anna is also writing a book on the Hulks and is best placed to tell us how true t
Nov 4, 2022 • 44:43
ANECDOTE: with Dr. Claire Wood 🎃😱🔥🎩
It's Halloween ... and the Dickens Code Decoders have uncovered Anecdote: a short ghost story which may have been written or improvised by the inimitable Boz himself!Claire Wood returns to introduce it and Dominic reads it for us ...HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃 👻 ...Support the showIf you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic G
Oct 31, 2022 • 3:30
Ghosts & Murder (Live Stream): TODAY 31st October 7.30pm (GMT) 🎃🔥📚🎩👻🚂
It's Halloween .... and wherever you are in the world you can watch Dominic's Live Stream of Ghosts and Murder today at 7.30pm (GMT) from inside the Charles Dickens Museum in London.The film will be followed by an online Q&A with Dominic and Claire Wood - where you can ask them questions in real time!BOOK HERE: https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/ghosts-murderThe film is three dramatic readings of Dickens' Sikes and Nancy; The Signalman and Wilkie Collins’ The Dead Hand …Here is a little
Oct 31, 2022 • 3:05
Dickens on Screen: with Andrew Davies
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Andrew Davies whose iconic screen adaptations include Bleak House, Pride & Prejudice, War & Peace, Les Miserablés, Middlemarch, Vanity Fair ... and many more!It all begins in 1976 with his iconic retelling of The Signalman ...To book for Dominic's GHOSTS AND MURDER live stream on Monday 31st October - which includes readings of Sikes & Nancy, The Dead Hand,The Signalman plus a live Q&A with Dr. Claire Wood - click here: https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-ev
Oct 28, 2022 • 37:03
The Dickens Code: with Hugo Bowles & Claire Wood
In this bumper episode Dominic is joined by the brilliant Prof. Hugo Bowles from Italy's University of Foggia and welcomes back to the series the inimitable Dr. Claire Wood. Together they take the listener on journey inside THE DICKENS CODE: a project that seeks to crack the code of Dickens' unique form of shorthand, and decipher the author's hidden messages from 150 years ago ...To book for Dominic's GHOSTS AND MURDER live stream on Monday 31st October - which includes readings of Sikes & Nancy
Oct 21, 2022 • 1:00:16
Ghosts and Murder: Live Stream 31st October 7.30PM (GMT)
This Halloween Dominic is taking part in a Live Stream + Q&A of Ghosts and Murder from inside the Charles Dickens Museum in London.You can watch it online - wherever you are in the world right here: https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/ghosts-murderDominic will perform three dramatic readings of Sikes and Nancy, The Signalman and Wilkie Collins’ The Dead Hand …Here is a little background to each of the three stories:Sikes and Nancy was a reading that Dickens himself was at first afraid to
Oct 8, 2022 • 2:00
Ghosts at 48 Doughty St: with Emily Dunbar
Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Emily Dunbar, curator at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.Today the museum launches its new exhibition To Be Read at Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts and the Supernatural ... Emily is here to guide us through what visitors can expect to encounter as they pass through the famous red door and cross the threshold of number 48 Doughty Street, London.Dominic's film Ghosts and Murder - which includes his readings of Sikes & Nancy, The Dead Hand and The Signalman - wil
Oct 5, 2022 • 35:59
The French Revolution: with Adam Zamoyski
Dominic is joined by the fantastic historian Adam Zamoyski who shares his insight into the origins of both Revolutionary thought and action in the last quarter of the 18th Century: what Dickens famously calls 'The Period' in his A Tale of Two Cities ...Adam's celebrated titles on the Age of Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars include: Holy Madness, 1812. Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow, Rites of Peace and Napoleon: The Man Behind The Myth ... This episode also contains both French Revolutionary
Sep 27, 2022 • 41:31
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 📚: with Claire Wood
Dominic is Joined by the brilliant Dr. Claire Wood, who is a lecturer in Victorian Literature at the University of Leicester and a former research associate at the University of York. Claire’s writing on Dickens includes: Dickens and the Business of Death, published by Cambridge University Press. Claire is also a founder of the Dickens Code which seeks to crack the mysteries of Dickens’ unique form of shorthand - a project that has just been nominated for a Times Education Award ..Also joining u
Sep 9, 2022 • 1:09:26
A Quick Hello ...
Dominic says a quick hello to thank you all for listening to Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! and to let you know ways in which you can help support this series.First you can sponsor or donate here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardYou can also book for Dominic's live-stream of Ghosts and Murder which has been filmed for Halloween exclusively inside the Charles Dickens Museum:https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-events/ghosts-murderWatch this live stream and Q&A wherever you are in the
Sep 2, 2022 • 2:43
Dickens and Travel: with Lucinda Hawksley
It's summer ... the perfect time to talk about Dickens' travels abroad. Dominic is joined again by the brilliant Lucinda Hawskley who returns to talk about her new book Dickens and Travel ... A perfect addition to your holiday reading!Mentioned also in the episode are two portraits which you can view here:Daniel Maclise's "Charles Dickens" ('Nickleby Portrait) 1839Francis Alexander's "Charles Dickens" 1842Plus Harry Styles' latest album Harry's House !To book for Dominic's GHOSTS AND MURDER live
Aug 19, 2022 • 53:00
BLEAK HOUSE 📚: with Stephen Fry
Dominic is joined by the inimitable Stephen Fry who takes the listener on an intricate journey through the fog and mystery of Dickens' thrilling masterpiece: Bleak HouseReading extracts from Esther's narrative also is the brilliant Sally ScottAnd here is a link to Miriam Margolyes' unabridged audiobook of Bleak House mentioned in the episodeIf you'd like to make a small donation to support the running of this series please click hereSupport the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the
Jul 27, 2022 • 48:44
"I called myself Pip" Great Expectations Chapter One: Read by Dominic Gerrard
Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of Great Expectations ... Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!
Jul 8, 2022 • 12:22
Waterloo: with Bernard Cornwell
On the 207th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo Dominic is joined by the inimitable Bernard Cornwell OBE. Author of the hugely successful Sharpe series which takes the reader through the Napoleonic Wars, Bernard's latest novel Sharpe's Assassin is now available in paperback and follows the events of the occupation of Paris immediately after Napoleon's defeat. Bernard has also written a straight history of Waterloo which is an indispensable guide to the campaign.Dickens was only 3 years old o
Jun 18, 2022 • 57:58
Dickens in Carrara: with Marzia Dati
Dominic is joined by Marzia Dati: Professor of English Literature at Liceo Marconi High School and founder of the first Italian Branch of the International Dickens Fellowship, in her home town of Carrara. Marzia’s new book A Sentimental Journey through Carrara is a visitor’s guide to this remarkable town that sits at the foot of the Apuan Alps, as they slope their way down to the Sea … These marble mountains gave Michelangelo the stone from which he cut the figure of his famous David, and to
May 8, 2022 • 39:14
Grip: with Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife
Dominic is joined by Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife for a special episode on Grip. Chris looks after the world famous ravens at the Tower of London, and tells hilarious anecdotes about his Ravens and how ingenious Dickens' descriptions of these rare and wonderful creatures are in Barnaby Rudge ...This episode also includes special readings from curator of Jane Austen's House Sophie Reynolds.HAPPY EASTER!Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series
Apr 14, 2022 • 46:44
The Turning Point: with Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
Dominic is joined by Professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst to discuss his extraordinary biography of Dickens The Turning Point: A Year That Changed Dickens and the World ...The year is 1851 and London's Hyde Park is centre stage with the opening of The Great Exhibition. It is also the year that Dickens sits down to write his masterpiece: Bleak House ...Thank you for listening! To support this series please follow the link belowSupport the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of
Mar 25, 2022 • 54:32
BARNABY RUDGE 📚: with John Bowen
Dominic is joined by the brilliant John Bowen: Professor of 19th Century Literature at the University of York. He is the author of Other Dickens: Pickwick to Chuzzlewit a book which focuses on Dickens’ early novels. John’s work has brought him in to close collaboration with many of the UK’s leading cultural organisations: such as the BBC, British Library, and the V&A. He was also was an academic advisor to David Edgar’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol for the RSC.In this episode they discuss D
Mar 8, 2022 • 42:39
The Life and Lies of Charles Dickens: with Helena Kelly
Dominic is joined by the celebrated Austen biographer Dr. Helena Kelly - author of Jane Austen, The Secret Radical Helena has completed a new, soon to be published, biography on Dickens and gives an exclusive interview about it here!Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for l
Feb 17, 2022 • 56:26
“I Am Born” David Copperfield Chapter One: Read by Dominic Gerrard
To mark Charles Dickens' 210th Birthday, Dominic reads the opening chapter of David Copperfield ...If you wish to make a small donation to this series - all coffees are hugely appreciated! Link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard/c/2529502?uid=1728604Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardHost: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: D
Feb 7, 2022 • 26:50
Staplehurst and The Signalman: with Gerald Dickens
Dominic is joined by Dickens' Great-Great Grandson, Gerald Dickens. They talk in detail about the Staplehurst Rail Crash of 1865 and Gerald's new book on the tragedy Dickens and Staplehurst … How the trauma of this experience effected Dickens and led him to write The Signalman … They also explore Gerald's career as a celebrated performer of Dickens' worksIf you'd like to support this podcast series please feel free to make a donation here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard/c/2529502?ui
Feb 3, 2022 • 48:17
GREAT EXPECTATIONS📚: with John Mullan
Dominic is joined by the celebrated writer, broadcaster, journalist and literary critic: Professor John Mullan. They have a lively discussion on Great Expectations with a particular emphasis on some of the 'forgotten' characters - such as Biddy.John's celebrated book The Artful Dickens is a must read for anyone wanting to deepen their appreciation of Dickens' genius and influence on contemporary fictionIf you'd like to support this podcast series please feel free to make a donation here: https:/
Jan 27, 2022 • 1:09:30
Re- Reading A CHRISTMAS CAROL📚: with Rosie Holt
It's Christmas Eve ... and Dominic's special guest is the brilliant actress, comedian and satirist, Rosie Holt and host of the NonCensored Podcast. This week, they have both re-read A Christmas Carol and are set to talk through what they found in each of the Staves. They also get massively sidetracked and talk about It’s A Wonderful Life, Scrooged and The Muppets …MERRY CHRISTMAS!Support the Show.If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' r
Dec 24, 2021 • 44:17
Dickens' Women: with Miriam Margolyes
In this episode Dominic is joined by the inimitable Miriam Margolyes. With a career spanning six decades, this celebrated actress has been a life-long fan of Dickens throughout. Now in her 80th year she has recently published her autobiography This Much is True ... A candid, unflinching, and hugely entertaining story of her life and career. In this course of this interview, Miriam talks in great detail about her one woman show Dickens and Women and gives an exciting announcement about its futu
Dec 22, 2021 • 35:00
Tim Carroll's A Christmas Carol
In this Christmas episode Dominic is joined by the Tony Award winning director Tim Carroll. They share their love for Dickens and discuss the process of creating two very different stage adaptations of A Christmas Carol. One a large ensemble production at The Shaw Festival Theatre, Ontario; the other a solo performance that has just been filmed inside the Charles Dickens Museum, London.This broadcast of this episode also marks the 178th Anniversary of the publication of Dickens' 'ghostly little
Dec 19, 2021 • 49:56
