giovedì 9 marzo 2017

~ "What Shall we Have for Dinner ?" ~ Catherine Hogart, Charles Dickens's forgotten wife's book.




CATHERINE THOMPSON DICKENS, NEE' HOGART ...




E' questa una figura lasciata in ombra dalla storia, forse perché parzialmente oscurata dal genio letterario del marito, il celebre e già celebrato in epoca vittoriana, Charles Dickens, forse di conseguenza alla cattiva propaganda che di lei lui stesso ne fece, tacciandola di incompetenza come donna di casa, additandola come pessima madre, come donna spesso vittima di episodi depressivi, come colei che fu responsabile della nascita dei loro dieci figli, visti come motivo del loro dissesto finanziario, una donna con la quale non si poteva convivere - ed infatti Dickens abbandonò il tetto coniugale dopo 22 anni di matrimonio per condurre una vita più ... libera da cliché, perlomeno da quelli imposti dall'etica del tempo.

Ma chi era in realtà Catherine Thomson Hogart, la fanciulla che a soli 19 anni convolò a nozze con l'allora ventiquattrenne scribacchino di umili origini in cerca di fortuna (e di denaro) ?




~∗⊱  ⊰∗~


Nata ad Edimburgo nel 1815, Catherine giunse con la famiglia in Inghilterra nel 1824.
Ella era la figlia primogenita di George Hogarth (gli Hogarth ebbero 10 figli ), giornalista per l'Edinburgh Courant, successivamente scrittore e critico musicale per il Morning Chronicle presso cui il giovane Dickens lavorava pubblicando occasionalmente articoli ed in seguito editore dell'Evening Chronicle. Si fidanzarono nel 1835 e si sposarono il 2 aprile 1836 a Chelsea e dopo aver trascorso la luna di miele a Chalk, nei pressi di Chatham, nel Kent, misero su casa nel quartiere di Bloomsbury, al n.48 di Doughty Street, 






dove diedero velocemente vita ad una numerosa famiglia: in casa Dickens nacque circa un figlio ogni anno e mezzo, ovvero 10 figli dal 1837 al 1852.

La sorella minore di Catherine, Mary, giunse a far parte della famiglia in qualità di supporto data la grande mole di lavoro che le spettava - i primi tre figli nacquero ciascuno ad un anno di distanza l'uno dall'altro - e non era inusuale che al tempo le sorelle ancora da maritare lasciassero la casa di famiglia per unirsi alle sorelle appena sposate per essere loro di aiuto nella conduzione della nuova casa e famiglia. Dickens si affezionò molto alla giovane Mary, e lei morì tra le sue braccia, forse per infarto, dopo una breve malattia nel 1837, toccandolo al punto da ispirarlo per la creazione di alcuni personaggi dei suoi romanzi, ovvero la sua morte la potete trovare compiutamente romanzata nella morte della piccola Nell in The Old Curiosity Shop (1841).

Ma guardando a Catherine più da vicino, le cronache del tempo ce la descrivono come una capace autrice, un'abile attrice e soprattutto una cuoca eccezionale, tutti talenti questi eclissati dal suo matrimonio, un'unione che aveva tutti i presupposti per essere sia molto felice che disperatamente triste: le numerose gravidanze, gli aborti - almeno due - le difficoltà economiche che conseguirono condussero la coppia, dapprincipio ben assortita in amore, capace di gioire del tempo trascorso durante le feste e le vacanze insieme, ad una coppia impossibilitata a vivere sotto il medesimo tetto.

Nel giugno del 1858 Charles e Catherine Dickens si separarono legalmente e da allora la reputazione di quest'ultima divenne oscillante tra quella di una sorta di martire e quella di un insopportabile demonio.


Dickens' Dream by Robert William Buss (1870) 




E' difficile credere a tutto questo se si pensa che quando si incontrarono Catherine divenne per Charles qualcosa come un idolo: egli proveniva da un mondo ben diverso, la sua infanzia era stata segnata dalla povertà e dalla minaccia del carcere per debiti, mentre ella proveniva da una serena famiglia medio borghese, cosa che fece intravvedere in lei una moglie ed una madre che avrebbe dato ai propri figli stabilità e la certezza di una casa spensierata e felice ... Catherine era divenuta la sua donna ideale.

Il successo che velocemente raggiunse Dickens, il quale passò da semplice giornalista a romanziere le cui opere erano lette dalla stessa Regina Victoria, mutarono completamente il suo carattere ed il suo modo di vivere, i suoi pensieri e le sue convinzioni addirittura avevano cominciato ad influenzare le opinioni politiche del paese... la sua famiglia gli stava per certo stretta.


Dettaglio da una delle numerose versioni del dipinto Portrait of Charles Dickens 
by William Powell Frith, 1859.





Dopo la separazione la corrispondenza tra Dickens e Catherine fu davvero di poco conto, anche se va ricordato che ella rimase per sempre fedele al marito e alla sua memoria fino alla morte avvenuta nel 1879 dovuta ad un male incurabile. 

Nel 1851 ella, sotto lo pseudonimo di Lady Maria Clutterbuck aveva dato alle stampe quello che possiamo definire un libro per giovani mogli, più che un libro di cucina


© Charles Dickens Museum




 - e al tempo era la questa la pubblicazione che andava per la maggiore - del tutto particolare, poiché non solo suggeriva compiti domestici e ricette interessanti, ma proponeva BILLS OF FARE, ossia menus per banchetti che giungevano a comprendere fino a venti commensali, 


© Charles Dickens Museum





le quantità e le porzioni per i quali non era per certo facile da calcolare, era richiesta una certa abilità e competenza in materia; in sostanza, Catherine Dickens, con il suo testo, si qualifica come la prima Mrs.Beeton della storia, un decennio e mezzo prima che la vera Mrs.Beeton pubblichi il suo ormai iconico libro per la casa e la cucina.

Nella prima edizione esso contiene una introduzione di Charles Dickens, cosa che indusse molti critici del tempo a ritenere che egli al fine ne fosse il vero autore, e riscosse un tale successo che vide ben cinque riedizioni, ma per più di un secolo alla povera Kate rimase associata l'immagine della moglie ottusa e trasandata di Charles Dickens, anche questo era stato adombrato dall'imponente, e forse anche ingombrante, genio del marito il quale spesso giungeva alla ribalta delle cronache per le relazioni che allacciava !


Le ricette che Catherine suggerisce sono contenute nell'appendice che occupa circa una trentina di pagine e numerose sono quelle a base di formaggio o guarnite con formaggio fuso, poiché il suo Charles ne era davvero ghiotto.

WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER ? 
SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED BY NUMEROUS BILLS OF FARE FOR FROM TWO TO EIGHTEEN PERSONS, questo il titolo completo del libro che, se vi appassiona l'argomento, vi consiglio di leggere, lo trovate on-line nell'edizione del 1852 QUI.


Anche oggi il nostro tempo insieme è giunto al termine, vi ringrazio come sempre, anzi, sempre più per quanto mi donate e spero che la lettura di oggi abbia suscitato il vostro interesse !

A presto 💕









BIBLIOGRAFIA:


Lillian Nayder, The Other Dickens: A Life of Catherine Hogarth, Cornell University Press. 2010;


WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER ? By lady Maria Clutterbuck, LONDON, Bradbury & Evans, 1852. 









CATHERINE THOMPSON DICKENS, NEE' HOGART ...






- picture 1 - Catherine Hogart Dicken's kitchen at 48 Doughty Street 



This is a figure left in the shadows  by History, perhaps because partially obscured by the literary genius of her husband, the renowned and already celebrated in the Victorian era, Charles Dickens, perhaps as a consequence to the bad propaganda that he made of her, accusing her of incompetence as a housewife, considering her a bad mother, a woman often victim of depressive episodes, the one who was responsible for the birth of their ten children, seen as the reason for their financial difficulties, a woman with whom none could live with - and in fact Dickens left the marital home after 22 years of marriage to lead a life more ... free from cliches, at least from those imposed by the ethics of the time.

But who was actually Catherine Thomson Hogarth, the girl who at just 19 years wed with the then twenty-four scribbler of humble origins in search of fortune (and money) whose name was Charles Dickens?




~∗⊱  ⊰∗~




- picture 2 - Catherine at the age of 19 when she got married to Charles Dickens




Born in Edinburgh in 1815, Catherine came with her family to England in 1824.
She was the eldest daughter of George Hogarth (the Hogarth had 10 children), a journalist for the Edinburgh Courant, then a writer and music critic for the Morning Chronicle, for which the young Dickens worked publishing occasional articles, and later the editor of the Evening Chronicle. They became engaged in 1835 and were married on April 2nd, 1836 in Chelsea and after spending their honeymoon in Chalk, near Chatham, Kent, they set up home in Bloomsbury, at 48 Doughty Street, 




- picture 3 - 48 Doughty Street today


- picture 4 - The Dickens' Drawing Room



- picture 5 - The Dickens' Dining Room



- picture 6 - Charles Dickens' Studio



- picture 7 - The Dickens' Morning Room





giving quickly rise to a large family since in Dickens's Home was born about a child every year and a half, ie 10 children from 1837 to 1852.

The younger sister of Catherine, Mary, went to live with them as a family support given the large amount of work she had to manage with - the first three children were born in their first three years of marriage - and it was not unusual for the time that the younger sisters still marriageable left  their family home to join the newly married sisters for helping them in the conduction of the new home and family. Dickens became very attached to the young Mary, and she died in his arms, maybe for a stroke, after a short illness in 1837, touching him to the point to inspire him to create some of the characters of his novels,  indeed, you may find her death completely fictionalized in the death of the little Nell in The Old Curiosity Shop (1841).

But looking closer to Catherine, the chronicles of the time describe her as a capable writer, a skilled actress and above all an outstanding cook, talents all eclipsed by her marriage, a union that had every reasons to be both very glad and desperately sad: the numerous pregnancies, miscarriages - at least two - the economic difficulties that ensued led the pair, well-matched at first in love, able to enjoy with gladness the time spent during the parties and holidays together, to a couple unable to live under the same roof.

In June 1858, Charles and Catherine Dickens got legally separated and since then the reputation of the latter became oscillating between that of a kind of martyr and that of an unbearable devil.




- picture 8 - Dickens' Dream, the unfinished painting by Robert William Buss (1870) 




It's hard to believe all this if we think that when they met Catherine became for Charles something like an idol: he was coming from a very different world, his childhood was marked by poverty and prison threat to debts, while she came from a serene middle-class family,which caused him to look at her as a wife and a mother who would give their children stability and the certainty of a carefree and happy home ... Catherine had become his ideal woman.

The success that quickly Dickens reached, who went from a mere journalist to a novelist whose works were read by the same Queen Victoria, completely changed his character and his way of life, his thoughts and his beliefs even had begun to affect the political opinions in the country ... his family was becoming too binding to him.




- picture 9 - A detail from one of several versions of the Portrait of Charles Dickens painted by William Powell Frith in 1859.




After their separation the correspondence between Dickens and Catherine was really insignificant, although it must be remembered that she remained faithful to her husband and to his memory until her death in 1879 due to an incurable disease.

In 1851 she, under the pseudonym of Lady Maria Clutterbuck, had given to the press what we might call a book for young wives, more than a cookbook




- picture 10 - © Charles Dickens Museum




 - and at the time this was the publication that was the most popular - very special because not only suggested household tasks and interesting recipes, but proposed BILLS OF FARE, ie menus for banquets that came to comprise up to twenty diners,




- picture 11 - © Charles Dickens Museum




the quantities and the portions for which it was not easy to calculate for sure, it required a certain skill and expertise; we could say that Catherine Dickens, with her book, qualifies herself as the first Mrs.Beeton in History, a decade and a half before the real Mrs.Beeton publishes her iconic book for the home and kitchen.

In the first edition it contains an introduction by Charles Dickens, which led many critics of the time to believe that he was the real author, and it was so successful to see five editions, but for more than a century to the poor Kate was associated the image of the dull and dowdy wife of Charles Dickens, this also was overshadowed by the imposing, and perhaps cumbersome, her husband's genius, he who often reached the headlines for his ... 'adventures' !



- picture 12 - 



Catherine suggests recipes that are contained in the Appendix which takes up about thirty pages and quite a lot are made with cheese or topped with melted cheese, because her Charles was really fond of it.

WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER?
SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED BY NUMEROUS BILLS OF FARE FOR PERSONS FROM TWO TO EIGHTEEN, this is the full title of the book, if you are passionate with its topic, I recommend you this reading, you may find it online in the edition of 1852 HERE.

And today too, our time together has come to its end, alas ! thank you as usual, in fact, more and more for what you donate me and I hope that this reading today has gratified your interest !


See you soon 💕 












BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Lillian Nayder, The Other Dickens: A Life of Catherine HogarthCornell University Press. 2010;

WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOR DINNER ? By lady Maria Clutterbuck, LONDON, Bradbury & Evans, 1852.



59 commenti:

  1. Dearest Daniela, I love all the beautiful and heartwarming images! Thank you so much for sharing, my dear friend, and I hope you are having a great week. :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      it's always such a delight to hear from you, darling friend, thanks most sincerely for gracing my blog today !

      Wishing you too a most pleasant weekend to come,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you ❥

      Elimina
  2. dear Daniela'

    Interesting post about Catherine and later to be the wife of Charles Dickens.
    Always find the history fascinating and will try and get a copy of the book. Thanks for sharing dear friend
    Wishing you a happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Carolyn
      may your weekend to be as beautiful as never before, sweetest friend !

      With utmost gratitude for taking the time both for visiting and for writing your so lovely words, I'm sending blessings of joy to you, may they reach you despite the so many miles ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  3. This was a good post for International Woman's Day Dani!! I have always loved reading Charles Dickens and it makes me quite sad to read for the first time how badly he treated his wife. (And to think he blamed her for those 10 children -- I guess that was the attitude in those days. How very sad.) What a brave woman she was to publish that book and to go on living her life in spite of not having marital support.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sallie
      precious friend of mine, yes, as you wrote, this is somehow the story of a brave woman, wife and mother, who went on living with her husband despite the love affairs he had and till he wanted it, and continued to love him for the rest of her life ... she was truly outstanding, wasn't she ?

      Have a most beautiful weekend ahead, sweet friend,
      may it be filled with so many little things which to be glad for `*•♥•.•♥•*´

      Elimina
  4. wow Dani, this was quite fascinating to read. i love Dickens' writing but am sorry he was not so kind to his wife. quite a story here. but i guess we can never know from the "outside" all that transpired in a relationship. wishing that you are well and happy and having a wonderful week! xo Michele

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Michele
      during the Victorian age it was quite common that wives had to stay at home to take care of it and of the children, which often were quite a lot; in this case they were really many, for sure, and Catherine's life had to be very busy and stressful, even with her sister's help ... I wonder how 'heavy' her days were, poor lady, that's why I don't know if I can understand Dicken's way of life and decision to leave his family ... anyway, we know that genius and recklessness walk side by side, according to Alexandre Dumas !

      May the sun of joy always shine for you,
      precious friend of mine ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  5. Carissima Daniela, davvero un bel post! Grande è la curiosità per tutte quelle donne che hanno vissuto nell'ombra dei loro mariti famosi e che ne hanno condiviso parte del genio!
    Ti auguro un dolcissimo weekend!:)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Valeria Altiero
      è sempre con gioia che ti accolgo qui, mia cara, grazie per il tuo graditissimo apprezzamento !

      E che anche il tuo weekend ti doni momenti di letizia e di serenità,
      te lo auguro di vero cuore ∗⊱༺♡❀♡༻⊰∗

      Elimina
  6. cara dany
    è triste constatare come tante Donne nella storia e nell arte siano state oscurate, tacciate, dimenticate. sarebbe bello scavare negli archivi e darne luce nuova. non conoscevo per esempio la storia di catherine moglie di dickens , sempre ben curata la tua descrizione e corredata da immagini pertinenti e di buon gusto.
    ti auguro un dolce we di marzo
    dnaiela

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ daniela
      carissima, grazie per queste tue bellissime parole di approvazione e di plauso, significano davvero molto per me, è sempre così giovevole per lo spirito trovare persone con cui condividere eventi ed emozioni, persone con cui essere in sintonia con la mente e con il cuore !

      Auguro anche a te giorni di spensieratezza,
      che il tuo weekend ti sorrida di gioia, dolce amica mia ❥

      Elimina
  7. Love the old (little bit sad) story and the pictures are very nice.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jedidia
      you're so heartily welcome, new friend of mine, I heartily thank you !

      ⊰♥⊱ Wishing you a most wonderul day ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  8. Eh sì hai ragione, io non conoscevo Catherine.
    Grazie per questo bellissimo post!
    TI auguro un sereno fine settimana.
    Ti abbraccio

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Manu
      è sempre una tale gioia accoglierti qui, mia cara, carissima amica !

      Ti ringrazio dal profondo del cuore e ti auguro un weekend prodigo di soddisfazione e di diletto, con la primavera alle porte il cuore si riconforta ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  9. What an absolutely awesome story. I had no clue about Catherine. It's interesting, but so sad, too. Thanks so much for sharing! I feel like I'm going away much more knowledgeable! Hope you have a great weekend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Debbie
      how absolutely delightful of you to write such lovely words, Dearie, I wholeheartedly thank you, you truly made my day !

      Wishing you much love and joy for the end of your week,
      may the Lord grant you most glorious days ♥∗≫✿≪∗♥

      Elimina
  10. They went all out on their dinners. Wow, what a lovely post.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend, my friend. ☺

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sandee
      I thank you most sincerely, darling friend, your enjoyment is my gladness !

      May your weekend too be as Beautiful as you ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  11. Thank you, Dani! I am a huge fan of Charles Dickens and his works. His life was quite fascinating, and anyone who was near or dear to him may have had to be content to be in the shadow of his enormous fame. Catherine had much to bear with the rumors (or maybe they were truth) about her other sister, Georgina having Charles' "love child". . .Georgina was close to him, and edited some of his later writings. Then, there was the affair with Ellen Ternan, which was quite well-known. I've wanted to get Catherine's book on domestic advice. Will definitely check it out! Thank you sharing this.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Cyntia
      as you probably know, Charles Dickens' affairs story is quite complicated, the one which linked him with Mary, first, and then with Georgina, both Catherine's sisters and helpers in her homemaking works, are well know, so as it is that which linked him with Ellen Ternan that in end alienated him from his family and his home in 1858, but historians tell us that he had also others liasons, less important, but quite a lot - If you're interested I dedicated a post to Dicken's lovers some times ago - just click HERE if you love to read it !

      Anyway, this was his private life, his genius is out of discussion, that's sure !

      Thanking you from the bottom of my heart for this so interesting and precious comment of yours,
      I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you, sweet friend ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  12. Oh wow you are always surprising me with the stories of the lives of people, I never knew he had so many children and that he was separated from his wife. I also didn't know that it was common for a younger sister to come help with the older sisters children and family.
    I so enjoy the pictures of his home, so fun to get glimpses of them.
    Wishing you a lovely weekend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Conniecrafter
      it always delights my heart to have you here and to read your words of interest, Dearie, today you've made it smile, you always bring such a inner joy here that always put me in so high spirits !

      Wishing you a most lovely remainder of your Sunday
      and new week ahead, with sincere thankfulness •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina
  13. Grazie per avermi fatto conoscere la talentuosa Catherine. Anche lei, come tante altre donne del passato, ha dovuto vivere all'ombra di un celebre marito
    Bacioni Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Alessandra
      ... e sopportarne le bizzarrie che culminarono con la separazione legale motivata dal bisogno di 'maggior libertà', povera Catherine, lei che poteva concedersi chiunque, era tra le donne più belle della Londra Regency alto borghese, se non la più bella in assoluto perché il denaro le poteva consentire di abbigliarsi ed acconciarsi con la massima cura, ed era la più bella delle tre sorelle Hogart ... che Dickens si sia lasciato proprio trasportare solo che dall'attrazione fisica ( oltre che dal bisogno di denaro ) ... ? Può anche essere, il che motiverebbe la freddezza che maturò con il trascorrere del tempo ...

      Grazie ancora una volta per la tua preziosissima presenza e partecipazione, carissima amica mia,
      ti abbraccio con il cuore colmo della letizia di cui mi hai fatto dono augurandoti una splendida serata ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  14. Provo sempre simpatia e compassione per queste figure femminili confinate nell'ombra dai mariti celebri. Povera Catherine, sposata tanto giovane con chissà quanti sogni. Grazie per questo post molto interessante. Buona domenica!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Laboratorio Oltremare
      grazie a te, carissima Giorgia, le tue parole d'interesse significano una tale gioia per me !

      Ti abbraccio con il cuore e che la tua serata sia prodiga di serenità per te e per chi ti è accanto ❥

      Elimina
  15. This is so fascinating! What a wonderful glimpse back in time. Sadly so many talented women of the time were overshadowed by more well known husbands.
    I hadn't known much about her at all. Have you ever considered compiling a book with all your wonderful posts? - they are always so beautifully written and captivating

    All the Best
    Christina

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Christina
      your words of praise about my posts honour to me, Darling, precious friend, they leave me speechless ... I'd love to have them all written on a book, yes, that would be such a lovely idea ... I should take some information about it ... you say it would be possible ?

      With utmost gratitude
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      may your week ahead be as Beautiful as you,
      sweet friend of mine ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  16. Interesting. I didn't know that Charles Dickens was so arrogant, and cruel to his wife. I wonder if he married her for money? Shame. Catherine was quite lovely. xo

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ A Joyful Cottage
      actually it's quite hard to believe if we think about the novels he wrote filled with such good sentiments ... maybe in them he gave the better side of himself !

      ... And maybe you're right, as a young man he was in such need of money and Catherine was so rich and so very beautiful ...

      Sending blessings on the remainder of your Sunday,
      with heartfelt thankfulness, dearest friend ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  17. @ Regine Karpel
    you're so heartily welcome, thank you !

    *♥* Wishing you a joyous day *♥*

    RispondiElimina
  18. What a fascinating read, Dany. I have not known much about Charles Dickens before, other than I love his books; A Tale of Two Cities, particularly. Now that you have informed me, I am sure I do not like him at all! As for Catherine she sounds lovely and very long suffering. I cannot imagine having that many children in such a short space of time. Thank you for such a good read, Dany!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kim
      it is who want to thank you, sweetest friend of mine, and I do it from the bottom of my heart, your words of enjoyment make my day !

      Wishing you a most pleasant remainder of your week,
      may your coming days be as Beautiful as you, Dearie !

      ⊰✿ With utmost gratitude ✿⊱

      Elimina
  19. Dani, You always have the most interesting posts. I really enjoyed learning about Catherine who later becomes the wife of Charles Dickens. I learn something new every time I visit with you. Happy Monday!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Snap
      I heartily thank you, sweet friend, your enthusiasm and amusement fill my heart with such a deep joy !

      Sending blessings on your day,
      I'm thinking of you with much love •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina
  20. Dear Daniela, I look forward every week to reading your posts and discovering something or someone new.
    This week your fascinating narrative about poor Catherine Dickens has left me wanting to know more about her life, I'll be taking a look at her receipt book and discovering that side to her life very soon.
    Thank you for bringing such an interesting character with you to Mosaic Monday this week.
    Maggie

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Maggie
      THANK YOU, you truly make my heart sing, cherished friend, blessed be !

      Sending much love to you across the miles,
      while wishing you most pleasant days to come ❥

      Elimina
  21. Thank you, Daniela, for this most interesting post. Women had a very difficult life so many years ago, and bore the brunt of their husbands' wills. There are two sides to every story, though, and I wonder if Charles was an easy man to live with.
    Have a wonderful week!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lorrie
      I also wonder if it was so easy to live side by side with Charles Dickens, whom I always thought to be such a wonderful man ... for sure he was a most wonderful writer !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      adorable friend of mine ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  22. I am so sorry to hear her sad story! And that Dickens became that kind of husband... Thank you for sharing about her! She does seem to be the pre-curser to Isabella Beeton! And now, the story behind the Old Curiosity Shop makes more sense for the ending always broke my heart...

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ JES the Pilgrim
      I heartily thank you for gracing my blog today, dearest friend, your inner Beauty and your words filled with sentiment and appreciation bless both my heart and my day !

      Thanking you for visiting and for writing such lovely words,
      I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you,
      with sincere gratitude ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  23. Dany, thank you for this interesting post. I learned so much more about Catherine and Charles Dickens! xo

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Gina
      what a joy to welcome you here today, dearest friend, you always put me in such good spirits, thank you !

      May the remainder of your week be filled with so many little things which to be glad for ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  24. Hello Dani,

    Sorry for not visiting lately. I was on holiday for a few weeks and extremely busy with a few styling projects. Nonetheless, I am glad o be back reading your lovely stories.

    It is always such a pleasure to read your posts. I learn so much history from you. Things that are not typically known. I really enjoyed reading about Catherine today. Fascinating story sweet friend.

    Please know that you are always near my heart.

    Hugs,

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Janet
      oh, dear, darling friend,you cannot imagine the joy you bring me !
      I was thinking of you a few days ago and I was wondering why for so long I wasn't hearing from you .. I was growing worried ... !
      Then I supposed that you were busy with Spring works, in your home and outside in the garden and had no much time for the pc ... so I was right, blessed be, my cherished lady !

      With so, so much gladness in my heart
      I'm sending hugs, love, blessings and even much more to you
      thank you for bringing your smile here today,
      ♥♡♥ I cherish you so ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  25. What an interesting post. So sad that their marriage ended in that way. You always share the most interesting historical information, about people whom most history books seem to pass over. Thank you for your research, always an interesting read :) Hugs and love to you today!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ SpicingUpIdaho
      that's just the goal I had in my mind when I first started caring this blog of mine, to highlight facts, lives, way of living overshadowed by battles, wars, dates we have to study at school and which are rightly considered more important to know for our culture... History is made also of so many people whose life we do ignore, thank you for having underlined it, dearest Marilyn, you're such an adorable friend !

      Wishing you a most lovely remainder of your weekend,
      may it be filled with joy and contentment ✿*✿

      Elimina
  26. A sad situation, but what an interesting woman, Dany.
    The fact that she raised 10 children is truly a feat within itself. My goodness, can you imagine???
    As always, I thank you so much sweet friend, for such beauty, and so many interesting topics.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Sending you hugs from across the ocean.
    xo.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lisa
      I do agree with you, dearest friend, to raise 10 children ( consider that she also miscarried at least two or three babies ) is truly an enterprise to me, she really had to be of very sturdy constitution and for sure she had a quite calm temper ... Today it couldn't be possible in our so busy and noisy world !

      May your weekend too be blessed with gladness, Sweetie,
      thank you for gracing my blog with your loveliness ... always ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  27. How interesting, Dany! The recipes at the end are gems, indeed! Hopefully, her children were a delight. That might have made up a bit for her husband's disloyalty. I hope spring has come soon to your corner of the world, my dear! Enjoy!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ June
      my Lovely Lady, this year our Spring has arrived quite soon, after a very mild Winter ... everything is blooming, that's a feast for our hearts !

      I'm sincerely glad to read in your words that you loved Catherine's book, it's quite special, isn't it? I think she was such a kind soul ...

      So very grateful to you for the wonderful heart you have, my cherished friend,
      I'm sending blessings of joy to you,
      may your Spring too be filled with joy and wonder ❥

      Elimina
  28. How pretty she was! Lovely post Daniela! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ The Charm of Home
      you said it, sweet friend, she was truly prety and also of so good temper, they said !

      It is i who want to thank you, I'm always delighted to join your so lovely link up party when I post the article suitable to your stunning blog !

      Wishing you a most lovely remainder of your week
      with sincere thankfulness ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  29. How interesting! I always knew about Dickens, but never even heard anything about his wife! She seemed to be a very complicated person, perhaps, just like her husband. Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kathleen
      it is I who wish to thank you, to share at your Vintage Charm is my pleasure and delight, sweetest friend of mine !

      With sincere gratitude
      I'm sending blessings across the many miles ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  30. Oh Dany -- this post is so fascinating. I didn't know anything of Catherine before, but then my familiarity with Charles Dickens' personal life is limited. Her story is sad and fascinating. And how wonderful to unearth information about this treasure of a cookbook. She looked terribly pretty -- it was a different kind of life then, wasn't it? I think hers wasn't happy -- but I hope she found some contentment with her writing. And wonderful meals!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanie
      thanks most sincerely for your so nice words of appreciation and enthusiasm, you're truly a ray of sun, Dearie !!!

      I also think that after the very first years of marriage she wasn't happy at all, I think it was very hard to live together with such a genious, so temperamental and moody... and let's hope that both her children and her book gave her the contentment she deserved, she was truly pretty, you're right, and had to be so sweet !

      May the remainder of your week be as beautiful as you,
      lovable friend of mine, blessed be ∗⊱༺♡❀♡༻⊰∗

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.