No Thoroughfare: Difference between revisions
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[[File:No Thoroughfare Dickens Collins 1st ed.jpg|thumb|right|210px|First edition cover]] |
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'''''No Thoroughfare''''' is a [[stage play]] and novel by [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Wilkie Collins]], both released in December 1867. |
'''''No Thoroughfare''''' is a [[stage play]] and novel by [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Wilkie Collins]], both released in December 1867. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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In 1867 [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Wilkie Collins]] collaborated to produce a [[stage play]] titled ''No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts''<ref>[http://www.wilkie-collins.info/play_no_thoroughfare.htm No Thoroughfare<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 26 December 1867. |
In 1867 [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Wilkie Collins]] collaborated to produce a [[stage play]] titled ''No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts''.<ref>[http://www.wilkie-collins.info/play_no_thoroughfare.htm ''No Thoroughfare''<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The two had previously collaborated on the play ''[[The Frozen Deep]]''. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the [[Adelphi Theatre]] on 26 December 1867. |
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The novel ''No Thoroughfare'' was also first published in |
The novel ''No Thoroughfare'' was also first published in 1867, in the [[Christmas]] number of Dickens's periodical ''[[All the Year Round]]''. There are thematic parallels with other books from Dickens's mature writings, including ''[[Little Dorrit]]'' (1857) and especially ''[[Our Mutual Friend]]'' (1865). |
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The publication of the story in ''All The Year Round'' represents an early example of commercial [[merchandising]], promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had |
The publication of the story in ''All The Year Round'' represents an early example of commercial [[merchandising]], promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had read the book. The chapters of the book are referred to as '[[Act (theater)|acts]]', and match the acts of the play. |
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In the book Collins assisted in [[Act (theater)|Act]] 1 and Act 4<ref>[http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/pva/5.html A Comprehensive List of Dickens's Short Fiction, 1833–1868<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
In the book Collins assisted in [[Act (theater)|Act]] 1 and Act 4;<ref>[http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/pva/5.html A Comprehensive List of Dickens's Short Fiction, 1833–1868<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Collins scripted most of the stage play with Dickens's assistance.<ref>[http://home.earthlink.net/~bsabatini/Inimitable-Boz/etexts/No_Thoroughfare_correct_first_ed.html ''No Thoroughfare'' [correct first edition]<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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== |
==Plot summary== |
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[[file:No Thoroughfare by Dickens and Wilkie Collins.jpg|thumb|right|''No Thoroughfare'' by [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Wilkie Collins]]. Left to right: Joey Ladle ([[Benjamin Webster]]), Sally Goldstraw (Mrs. Alfred Mellon), George Vendale ([[Henry G. Neville]]), Jules Obenreizer ([[Charles Fechter|Charles Albert Fechter]]), Marguerite ([[Carlotta Leclercq]]), Walter Wilding ([[John Billington (actor)|John Billington]]), and Bintrey ([[George G. Belmore]]).]] |
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| ⚫ | Two boys from the [[Foundling Hospital]] are given the same name, (Walter Wilding), with disastrous consequences in adulthood. After the death of one – now a proprietor of a wine merchant's company – the [[executor]]s, to right the wrong, are commissioned to find a missing heir. Their quest takes them from wine cellars in the City of London to the sunshine of the [[Mediterranean]] – across the [[Alps]] in winter. Danger and treachery would prevail were it not for the courage of the [[heroine]], Marguerite, and a faithful company servant. |
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==The novel== |
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The story contains crafted descriptions, well-drawn and diverse characters, eerie and exotic backgrounds, mystery, semi-concealed identities, brinkmanship with death, romance, the eventual triumph of Good over Evil, and many other elements expected in classic Dickens. |
The story contains crafted descriptions, well-drawn and diverse characters, eerie and exotic backgrounds, mystery, semi-concealed identities, brinkmanship with death, romance, the eventual triumph of Good over Evil, and many other elements expected in classic Dickens. |
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At 48,000 words it is the length of many modern |
At 48,000 words it is the length of many modern novels, and longer than any of Dickens' Christmas novels, which are all between 31,000-34,000 words. |
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==Plot summary== |
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| ⚫ | Two boys from the [[Foundling Hospital]] are given the same name, with disastrous consequences in adulthood. After the death of one – now a |
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==The |
==The stage play== |
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The stage play follows a similar plotline, but is compressed and made particularly dramatic in the fourth act, which is set in the [[Swiss Alps]]. The tension builds to a spectacular scene in which Obenreizer, the villain, confronts the hero George Vendale, at the side of a mountain gorge |
The stage play follows a similar plotline to the novel, but is compressed and made particularly dramatic in the fourth act, which is set in the [[Swiss Alps]]. The tension builds to a spectacular scene in which Obenreizer, the villain, confronts the hero George Vendale, at the side of a mountain gorge. It has been performed rarely since the 1867 West End premiere, in 1876 at the [[Olympic Theatre]]<ref>Gasson, Andrew. [https://www.wilkie-collins.info/play_no_thoroughfare.htm "''No Thoroughfare''"], Wilkie Collins Information Pages, accessed 1 April 2020</ref> and in 1904 at a small theatre in Islington. However, on 2 June 2007 [[Primavera Productions]] produced a staged reading, directed by Tom Littler, at the King's Head Theatre in London. The reading starred [[Louise Brealey]] as Marguerite. |
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==Footnotes== |
==Footnotes== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{gutenberg|no=1423}} |
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The text from the 1894 [[Chapman and Hall]] edition may be found in [[Project Gutenberg]]. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1423] |
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* {{librivox book | title=No Thoroughfare | author=Charles Dickens}} |
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{{Charles Dickens}} |
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There is also an unabridged audio recording of the book on the [[Librivox]] web site. [http://librivox.org/no-thoroughfare-by-charles-dickens/] |
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{{Wilkie Collins}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
The stage play has been performed only once since the 1867 premiere, in 1904. On June 3, 2007 [[Primavera Productions]] produced a staged reading, directed by Tom Littler, at the King's Head Theatre in London. The reading starred [[Loo Brealey]] as Marguerite. |
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[[Category:1867 plays]] |
[[Category:1867 plays]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Chapman & Hall books]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:English novels]] |
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[[Category:Novels by Charles Dickens]] |
[[Category:Novels by Charles Dickens]] |
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[[Category:Novels by Wilkie Collins]] |
[[Category:Novels by Wilkie Collins]] |
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[[Category:Plays by Charles Dickens]] |
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[[Category:Plays by Wilkie Collins]] |
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[[Category:Works originally published in All the Year Round]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:21, 14 May 2024
No Thoroughfare is a stage play and novel by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, both released in December 1867.
Background
[edit]In 1867 Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins collaborated to produce a stage play titled No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts.[1] The two had previously collaborated on the play The Frozen Deep. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 26 December 1867.
The novel No Thoroughfare was also first published in 1867, in the Christmas number of Dickens's periodical All the Year Round. There are thematic parallels with other books from Dickens's mature writings, including Little Dorrit (1857) and especially Our Mutual Friend (1865).
The publication of the story in All The Year Round represents an early example of commercial merchandising, promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had read the book. The chapters of the book are referred to as 'acts', and match the acts of the play.
In the book Collins assisted in Act 1 and Act 4;[2] Collins scripted most of the stage play with Dickens's assistance.[3]
Plot summary
[edit]
Two boys from the Foundling Hospital are given the same name, (Walter Wilding), with disastrous consequences in adulthood. After the death of one – now a proprietor of a wine merchant's company – the executors, to right the wrong, are commissioned to find a missing heir. Their quest takes them from wine cellars in the City of London to the sunshine of the Mediterranean – across the Alps in winter. Danger and treachery would prevail were it not for the courage of the heroine, Marguerite, and a faithful company servant.
The novel
[edit]The story contains crafted descriptions, well-drawn and diverse characters, eerie and exotic backgrounds, mystery, semi-concealed identities, brinkmanship with death, romance, the eventual triumph of Good over Evil, and many other elements expected in classic Dickens.
At 48,000 words it is the length of many modern novels, and longer than any of Dickens' Christmas novels, which are all between 31,000-34,000 words.
The stage play
[edit]The stage play follows a similar plotline to the novel, but is compressed and made particularly dramatic in the fourth act, which is set in the Swiss Alps. The tension builds to a spectacular scene in which Obenreizer, the villain, confronts the hero George Vendale, at the side of a mountain gorge. It has been performed rarely since the 1867 West End premiere, in 1876 at the Olympic Theatre[4] and in 1904 at a small theatre in Islington. However, on 2 June 2007 Primavera Productions produced a staged reading, directed by Tom Littler, at the King's Head Theatre in London. The reading starred Louise Brealey as Marguerite.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ No Thoroughfare
- ^ A Comprehensive List of Dickens's Short Fiction, 1833–1868
- ^ No Thoroughfare [correct first edition]
- ^ Gasson, Andrew. "No Thoroughfare", Wilkie Collins Information Pages, accessed 1 April 2020
External links
[edit]- No Thoroughfare at Project Gutenberg
No Thoroughfare public domain audiobook at LibriVox
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