‘Dickens and The Victorian Thriller’

‘Dickens and The Victorian Thriller’ is one of the literary events that were sponsored by TCM Crime Scene 2008. Ann Perry was one of the guest speakers at this event. Although this event was titled ‘Dickens and The Victorian Thriller’ none of the guest speakers’ expertise was Dickens, only the moderators really had any great knowledge of Dickens. Ann Perry and the rest of the guest speakers’ expertise was in the writing of mystery novels that are set in the Victorian Era. None of the writers were historians or experts on the Victorian Era but they all do their research for their novels based on their own ideas or stories that are found in newspapers. The literary event’s focus was on the mystery novel, although the moderator kept trying to bring the focus back to Dickens, and it was interesting to hear what the writers had to say about why they write what they do. Ann Perry mentioned that she decided to write in the Victorian Era because of its interesting nature; Jack the Ripper and other criminals’ real identity were never discovered, families had secrets that they would pay to keep quiet, and a person would do anything to keep their reputation. The novels from all three writers are set in England and because of this the heroes in the stories have different difficulties that they deal with. the writers all agree that their characters are not often in situations where they find themselves in bodily danger but they do find things and people that they care about it situations beyond their control that are dangerous and potentially deadly. After hearing the authors’ reasons for writing in the Victorian Era is helped me understand the English mystery genre more fully because I now know what to look for within the novels.

Hyde Park: Consistency

Hyde Park is a wonderful example of what a park should be with its large empty fields, quiet lake, beautiful gardens and commemorative statues. These qualities have become expected for a park to be considered a full functioning and beautiful park, which Hyde Park is. The consistency that I am speaking of in the title is the consistency of the English tradition. The pictures below represent the strength of the armed forces and there success in armed conflicts, the consistency of the Monarchy and the British people and the beauty that is never ending.



A playing field or a relaxing picnic.



From the Ladies...



Victory.



The symbols of the Monarchy and Britain.



Diana.




Sunbathing on Art.



At Speakers' Corner.




Enjoying 'natural' beauty.

39 Steps

39 Steps was a phenomenal performance! This play seemed to fit right into the British Mystery Novel class because it is a mystery and it is British, but of course the representation and their interpretation of 39 Steps caused the audience to focus more on the satire and comedy than the mystery that the play contained. I think that for the play to be included solely in the mystery genre it would have to be interpreted in a less comedic way so that the mystery could actually be taken seriously by the audience. As it was all that I, as an observer, was interested in was where the next comic gag was coming from and less of what the 39 Steps were. While a different interpretation of the play may have fitting it nicely within the mystery genre this interpretation does prove to be a parody of a cozy.

39 Steps provides what is supposed to be an amateur detective story but it is filled with lots of comedic relief. I really enjoyed watching the four characters play so many different parts with all of the costume and accent changes. The play relies a lot on the stereotypes that everyone in the audience, no matter their cultural background, would readily identify; the English detective with his fedora and tweed coat that drinks, smokes, and is a bored womanizer, the seductive female spy with the foreign accent, and the assassins in the trench coats under the street light. Most of these stereotypes are included in the original cozy mystery but not to the great extent that it was portrayed in the play where they were done over the top, much to the enjoyment and laughter of all the audience.

A Walk on the Wild Side South of the Thames: The globe

The "Walk on the Wild Side of the Thames" was a little wild because of the Thames Festival but I enjoyed the stroll along the river searching for The Globe and found globes. This common theme followed the whole walk from Tower Bridge to Hungerford Bridge, weather intentional on not. After walking by The Globe I guess that I just had the globe on my mind because I began to see it everywhere. It is widely used because of its symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing qualities. The globe is an interesting shape to look for because it can be found in almost everything as is evident in my pictorial collection.

Joint at Tower Bridge with decoration.

Life preservation for the Thames.

The globe outside The Globe.

The Real Globe.

Globe with a crown adores the lamp pole.

Beehive Globe.

Round English pies, almost globe shaped.

Talented man balancing a globe.

Global problem.

Kensington Gardens: Lines

While Kensington Garden for some is just a place of relaxation or athleticism for me it was a place filled with lines. I know what you are thinking "why are there lines of people forming in the park?" but that is not what I am referring to. What I am referring to is the linear design that seemed to be everywhere in the park from the height of the statues and the trees to the patterns of the grass and the pathways. The linear design of the park caused me to reflect on the structure that seemed to be placed on even the most informal of places, a park, but then I considered the historical function of the park, as the private park of Kensington Palace, and the more structured design was understood. Kensington Garden used to be solely for the use of the royal family but since the late 18th century they have been open to the public for our enjoyment.




Linear grass designs.



A side house to the palace.






Swan Lake.



Just a walk in the park.



Prince Albert in the heavens.



The trees just keep growing and growing...

British red coat.

All the ducks in a row.

The Walls of Londinium: A Concrete Jungle

After traveling through time and space and a couple tunnel stops I arrived at the start of the London wall. The wall transports one back to a time were life was more simple and there was a whole lot less concrete. Throughout the walk there was a strong contrast between the "concrete" ruins and buildings and the hidden oasis' that were hidden among them. The contrast between old and new and concrete and life expressed London's desire to remember their history without stunting their growth as a country. The little oasis' that seemed to be hidden everywhere are reminders that though this is the financial side of town it is not always straitlaced business men and women but Londoners enjoying themselves and embracing their history.



British past time, lawn bowling.



The afternoon paper.



Food, not water.



Surrounded by the concrete jungle.



Affects of WW II.



Gothic style engulfed by vegetation.



Peace in the Park.



Vegetation, history, and modernization.