Hardcover, 360 pages
English language
Published Dec. 14, 2012 by HarperCollins.
"In an alternative version of Victorian London, a seventeen-year-old Dodger, a cunning and cheeky street urchin, unexpectedly rises in life when he saves a mysterious girl, meeets Charles Dickens, and unintentionally puts a stop to the murders of Sweeny Todd"--
The first time I tried to read this I gave up, not sure why. This time I was much more captured by a fun victorian romp through London sewers with the origins of many well known dickens characters.
I loved the little bits of history peeking out of the story.
Not quite a retelling of Dickens' Oliver Twist, but more of a telling-along of it. We follow Dodger - not quite artful yet - becoming the hero of Fleet Street, Rescuer of Damsels in Distress (or at least one Damsel), and acquaintance of Charlie Dickens.
More serious that Pratchett's Discworld, Dodger still manages to incorporate historical facts, fantastic fiction and smart nods to Britain's greatest newspaper bits, stories and novels.
It’s easy to see a lot of Ankh-Morpork in the streets of Victorian London, but this story is far from the tales of Discworld. I found it very slow and didn’t find Pratchett’s rendition of Charles Dickens or Dodger that engaging. However, as always, there are some wonderful observations hidden away in what is otherwise a fragrant adventure in the sewers of London. I think overall, it would suit a younger audience.
Pratchett makes many connections between Dodger and those whose professions are considered above the board. Politicians and journalists as just as much “on the dodge” at times. The idea of making a living searching poo for a few coins being better than life as a chimney sweep or even the workhouses, really hits home the awful poverty of city life in Victorian times.
I found the most interesting aspects were the real people, however dramatized they might be. …
It’s easy to see a lot of Ankh-Morpork in the streets of Victorian London, but this story is far from the tales of Discworld. I found it very slow and didn’t find Pratchett’s rendition of Charles Dickens or Dodger that engaging. However, as always, there are some wonderful observations hidden away in what is otherwise a fragrant adventure in the sewers of London. I think overall, it would suit a younger audience.
Pratchett makes many connections between Dodger and those whose professions are considered above the board. Politicians and journalists as just as much “on the dodge” at times. The idea of making a living searching poo for a few coins being better than life as a chimney sweep or even the workhouses, really hits home the awful poverty of city life in Victorian times.
I found the most interesting aspects were the real people, however dramatized they might be. Such as Angela, heir to the Coutts fortune yet unmarried and doing her bit to help the poor help themselves. Such a very modern woman for the times. There was also Henry Mayhew who went on to write an eye-opening study of the poor in London, Benjamin Disraeli, who would become Britain’s only Jewish prime minister and Sir Robert Peel, head of the new brand of policemen. Joseph Bazalgette, the engineer who would one day improve the sewers of London, gets his first taste of the bowels of the city when Dodger takes him toshing.
There were also some characters borrowed from literature or, if you like, urban legend such as Sweeney Todd. Dodger himself isn’t exactly the Artful Dodger, but I get the idea he is perhaps meant to be the inspiration for Dickens’s character. And, of course, Charlie Dickens has quite a large role in the story too.
Initially very confused about the mix of fictitious and historical, but enjoyed it once I just relaxed and stopped trying to analyse each anachronism and cease playing 'pin the history on the character'. Sort of a Dickensian Forrest Gump, colourfully illustrating a piteous existence while being wonderfully unaware or uncaring of one's lot. Also I want a pat on the head for knowing about Cloacina prior to reading this lovely little book. Thank you.
