xt7qjq0stw34_2558 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection Robert Shelton Mackenzie letter to T. A. Greene text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. Robert Shelton Mackenzie letter to T. A. Greene 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_24/Folder_106/Multipage8665.pdf 1844 August 7 1844 1844 August 7 
  Scope and Contents
  
Peal accession no. 8561. Clipping on "A literary controversy" regarding his Life of Charles Dickens.
 section false xt7qjq0stw34_2558 xt7qjq0stw34  

 

 A LITERARY Cowrnovuney. Mr. R. Shelton Muc-

kenzie, in his Life of CharlrsDickens, published last :_
year, stated that in 1847 Georgellruikshank told him «
that Charles Diokenn, than Wl'if‘llg' “Oliver Twist,” had
dropped in one day, accidentally fileminrd :1 bundle of

drawings which he (Cruikshank) had ma tie to Show the

life of a London thief, and had thereby been inJuced i

not to carry Oliver Tw15t through adventures in the
country, but take him in m a tlnev'ea’ den in London. as

shown in the said drawings. “I cousentod,”Cruik~ ;
shank said'to Mr. Mackenzie, “to 10! him write up as _
many of gthe characters as he thought would suit his ,-

purpose; and that was the way is: which Fagin, Sykes

andfitNaucy were created. My drawmgs suggested 1

them.”

Fr Mr. John Forster, in the first volume of his Life of
Dickms, just out, calls in' unStivD the truth of Macken-
zie’ehstatement. and characterizes it. as “a wonderful
story, originally promulgated in America, with a mi-
nute conscreutiousnets and particularity of detail that
might have raised the reputation of Sir Benjamin Bank-
bite himself.” He speaks also of ”one uupolite word,
inithese letters, which is alone applicable to it." Whiah,
tossyflho leest, is drawing it rather strong. Mr. Mac-
kenzie, being of this opinion, reiterates, in the Phila-
delphia Press of the 18: h, the statement previously
ruudelln his 'volume, and brings forward, in attestation
of bit, a letter Written by CrLikslmnk. Nov, 12,1870, in
“which occurs this passage/concerning the point in ques-
tion-_i,“Theu followeri (1839) ‘Uliver Twist,’ which was
entirely 7771/ own idea and suggestion. and all the char-
acters are mine. And this will account for the fact of
‘,Oliver Twist’ being very diiferent from any of his
oilier1writings."

; Mr. Mackenzie comments, with some severity, upon.

the fact that Forster, though living in the same city

with Cruikuhank, took no pains to find from him the ’

truth or falsity of the statement, and feels naturally
somewhat aggrieved at the imputation cast upon h1-
Yé‘l‘acity. Such a conflict of authorities is unpiefisant '
the best, but in full view of the facts it seems thiit
only course Keir open to Mr. Forster is a full an -
withdrawal of his charge.