(An Incomplete) List of Ridiculous Names in Charles Dickens Novels

Abel Garland

Abel Magwich

Adolphus Tetterby

Alfred Jingle

Affery Flintwinch

Anne Chickenstalker

Anthony Jeddler

Augustus Snodgrass

Barnaby Rudge

Bayham Badger

Bazzard

Bella Wilfer

Bentley Drummle

Betsy Prig

Betsy Quilp

Betsy Trotwood

Brownlow

Bucket

Bumble

Caroline “Caddy” Jellyby

Charity Pecksniff 

Clara Peggotty

Cleopatra Skewton

Clickett

Cornelia Blimber

Canon Crisparkle

Charles Cheeryble

Chevy Slyme

Clarence Barnacle

Clarriker

Creakle

Dick Datchery

Dick Swiveller

Dolge Orlick

Duff

Durdles

Ebenezer Scrooge

Elijah Pogram

Ephraim Flintwinch

Fanny Cleaver

Fanny Squeers

Flora Finching

Fagin

Fezziwig

Fledgeby “Fascination”

Grace Jeddler

Gaffer Hexam

General Cyrus Choke

Grewgious

Helena Landless

Henrietta Boffin

Henrietta Petowker

Ham Peggotty

Hannibal Chollop

Harold Skimpole

Herbert Pocket

Isabella Wardle

Jemima Bilberry

Jerry Cruncher

Job Trotter

John Peerybingle

Josiah Bounderby

Kit Nubbles

Kenge

Krook

Lavinia Wilfer

Lucretia Tox

Luke Honeythunder

Malta Bagnet

Mercy Pecksniff 

Martin Chuzzlewit

M’Choakumchild

Mealy Potatoes

Mould

Ninetta Crummles

Nadgett

Nathaniel Winkle

Neckett

Nemo

Newman Noggs

Noddy Boffin

Oliver Twist

Peg Sliderskew

Pet Meagles

Pleasant Riderhood

Polly Toodle

Paul Sweedlepipe

Perker

Phil Squod

Prince Turveydrop

Pumblechook

Quinion

Ruth Pinch

Redlaw

Rogue Riderhood

Sairey Gamp

Sissy Jupe

Sophronia Lammle

Susan Nipper

Sleary

Sloppy

Slurk

Smalweed

Smike

Snagsby

Snawley

Stryver

Tartar

Theophile Gabelle

Toots

Trabb

Tulkinghorn

Tungay

Tattycoram

Uriah Heap

Vholes

Vincent Crummles

Volumnia Dedlock

Wackford Squeers

Zephaniah Scadde


The Life of Charles Dickens (BBC)

“Words Ruin One’s Thoughts” — William Gaddis Quotes Thomas Bernhard

Late in his life, William Gaddis became a big fan of Thomas Bernhard who he quoted at length in a letter he sent to critic Gregory Comnes (that’s Gaddis’s handwriting). Via/more.

Book Acquired, 2.01.2012

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Haley Tanner’s acclaimed novel Vaclav & Lena is new in trade paperback (excellent cover on this one, by the bye). From Page Pulp’s review:

You could try to categorize this book as a love story or an immigrant story, but it is really simply a human story.  Like life itself, it can be sometimes funny, sometimes awkward (like the scene where Vaclav’s father walks in on him getting out the tub and makes a wrong assumption about what Vaclav was doing), sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and yes, sometimes incredibly dark.  It reflects the human experience so well, but never feels cliché.  Tanner’s prose has a simplicity that mimics the characters’ imperfect English.  She creates beauty with her words, but is never too flowery. This allows the story to shine through, unobscured. Her characters almost do not seem like characters; after awhile they start to feel wondrously real, like you could reach out and touch Lena’s messy black curls.  Tanner is adept at shaping both the story and the characters so that they feel realistic.

Self-Portrait as Gorgeous Tumor — Julie Heffernan