To commemorate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth, SKS are holding a unique exhibition of Charles Dickens’ memorabilia. It will feature prints of the writer’s portraits and older editions of his novels as they appeared over the years, some in facsimile format, plus copies of the first edition of the Maltese version of A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1950 by the poet Karmenu Vassallo. One highlight of the exhibition will be an authentic and original display of a Charles Dickens signature at the end of the first edition of Hard Times published in 1863. Faded but still there, the signature testifies to the determination with which Dickens promoted his books. Dickens was an outstanding writer and an outstanding showman. To the end of his life, he attended book-signing ceremonies at which he read extracts from his publications and then signed copies brought by avid readers. Five years before he wrote A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens was hard at work promoting the novel of social protest, Hard Times, by signing copies of that book as it came hot from the press. One of those signatures will be on display at the SKS exhibition in honour of Charles Dickens.
Some still doubt whether Dickens needed to work so hard to sell his books; for he was a master storyteller. And he had some very good stories to tell. A Tale of Two Cities was no exception. It blends adventure with political turmoil and tops it off with an outstanding love story. Dickens himself called A Tale of Two Cities his best novel, and he was probably right. Back in the 1950s when Karmenu Vassallo’s translation of A Tale of Two Cities was first launched in Malta, it sold out in a matter of weeks. This again confirmed that Dickens was the English author most liked by Maltese readers, beating both Shakespeare and the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle.
The SKS exhibition to launch the new publication of A Tale of Two Cities in Karmenu Vassallo’s splendid translation, provides a very interesting overview of how Dickens fascinated the public with his stories and of how he promoted them. The exhibition is being mounted with the assistance of the National Library and private collectors who provided books for display as well as reproductions of older editions of Dickens novels.
The exhibition will be held at the foyer of the Ċentru Nazzjonali Laburista, Hamrun between 13-18 March (10am to 8pm). Entrance is free and visitors can also obtain a copy of the latest edition of Ġrajja Ta’ Żewġt Ibliet which is selling for €10.