In 1873, T. P. James persuaded many people that he was the “spirit pen” of Charles Dicken’s ghost. If you believed him, or if you were just curious, he would be glad to sell you a copy of his book.
As part of the Brattleboro Literary Festival, contestants will gather at the Brooks Memorial Library meeting room on Oct 4, at 10 AM. The room will be refitted as a seance parlor. The Seance could be described as “faux”, but we are looking for serious attempts to complete his novel,”The Life and Adventures of Bockley Wickleheap” one chapter at a time.
While T. P. James claimed to channel Dickens, you can choose to channel either him, or Dickens or, just pretend. (There will be a prize for best channelling, but don’t plan on getting too wild. This is a library, even ghosts have to be quiet). Then when you are ready to roll, you can hand write a chapter of “The Life and Adventures of Bockley Whickleheap”. This was the second novel that T. P. James claimed was being dictated to him by the ghost of Charles Dickens, back in the 1870’s, right here in Brattleboro.
A free copy of the one and only chapter that we have of this novel, is available at the Library, in the display rack for this event. The display rack is on the first floor lobby, near the front doors. Grab a copy, and read the chapter so that you will be prepared during the seance to write your chapter. Alternatively, the entire chapter is available at www.universityofbrattleboro.com.
Hand written attempts to write another installment of this novel,( in the neighborhood of 800 words, or less) will be collected.The winner will be announced on Haloween, 2014.
More details are available at http:\\www.universityofbrattleboro.com
Rolf
The only possible explanation
TP James WAS talking to the ghost of Dickens! It’s the only possible explanation!
Do we know anything of Bockley Whickleheap? Stuck in a dismal, dreary, London job? Slaving away in the workhouse? A miser? The title implies a life and adventures. Perhaps each chapter should be a new adventure.
Actually, Bockley could become a ghost writer of sorts. That might do the story justice. : )
Everything we know of the original story comes from Chapter "X"
I have just posted Chapter X.
There are additional free printed copies of this chapter in the Brooks Memorial Library in a little display that I set out in the lobby.
I think its a great idea to summarize what we can, from that chapter.For one thing, Bockley Whickleheap seems unwilling to believe that humans ever hurt humans capriciously.
SATURDAY AT 10 AM at the Library Meeting Room
We will be asking some questions of T. P. James, including, where are you buried, and when did you die ? Also, how ?
we also will be opening a text that has recently come to light with the help of staff at the Boston Public Library, that may, or may not, answer some of these questions.
And then, we will write.
Come on down for a good time.
Here is the ONE original chapter that still exists
T. P. James apparently wrote out the entire novel, but we only have the following chapter of
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BOCKLEY WICKLEHEAP
( BY THE SPIRIT-PEN OF CHARLES DICKENS )
CHAPTER “X”
Continued
“Well, Joe, I am sorry to have put you to so much trouble,” answered Jacob, and smiling at the others remarks, “but the truth is I was so engrossed with a matter which occurred at old Poddlegreed’s a half-hour since, that I should not have heard any one who did not cry out as loud as you. Walk along with me, and I’ll tell you about it.”
As he finished speaking, he took the arm of Mr. Muffels and, resuming their walk, related to him all that had occurred while he was in the house of Lot Poddlegreed.
“Now there is a mystery about this,” he added, when the recital was finished, “which I cannot solve, and the strangest part of all is the conduct of the servant. If she spoke the truth, some danger threatens me, or why else should I need a friend at this particular time, as she says I will?”
“Why didn’t you ask her?”, was the laconic reply of Mr. Muffels.
“Because I was so astounded that I did not know what to say”, and before I could recover from the surprise, she had disappeared. One thing, however, I am confident of – that the old woman Strouns, notwithstanding her assurances to the contrary, is no friend of mine, though why, I am at a loss to conjecture.”
They walked in silence for a few moments, when Joe suddenly slapped his companion on the shoulder, exclaiming, “I’ve got it.”
“Got what?” enquired Jacob, in a tone of surprise.
“I’ve solved the mystery,” returned Joe.
“Have you,” responded Jacob, “Well I am glad to hear it. Please let me have the solution.”
“The old woman Smilewell has told Mag Strouns, if she did not already know it, that you are an adopted son, with no knowledge of your relatives, even if you have any living, and for some reason she has decided to use you as an instrument to aid in some devil’s scheme which she is concocting. I know her for a wicked, plotting old crone; and it’s a pity old Poddlegreed don’t know her as well as his neighbors do. I’ve pretty good reason for knowing her, for, as you are aware, I was a clerk with old Lot nearly a twelve-month, and most likely should have been his clerk yet, only for Mag Strouns, and be d—d to her.”
“I can hardly agree with you, Joe,” answered Jacob, who had listened to what his companion had said. “I fear your prejudices lead you to surmise that which is hardly probable. Even taking for granted that Mag Strouns is the unprincipled woman you affirm her to be, she could have no object in doing me, an injury. It must be selfish motive which would induce one person to cause another trouble; but as it is hardly probable that such a motive exists, in this case, the desire would have to arise from sheer caprice, which I can hardly credit.”
“I hope your right, and I am wrong,” rejoined the other, ”but there’s no harm in keeping a sharp look-about in this matter, and I believe if that servant should tell all she knows, you’d be of my way of thinking.”
By this time they had reached the home of Jacob Smilewell, an old, and rather dismal looking house, the windows black with grime, with here and there broken panes which had rags stuffed through the holes or dingy pieces of paper pasted over them.
Bidding his companion, who had declined an invitation to enter, goodnight, Jacob entered the house, and ascending a flight of stairs, opened the door of a room in which were assembled three persons.
To be continued.
QUESTIONS THAT AUTHORS IN 2014 must try to answer.
As noted in the display that is at the library, here are some
QUESTIONS THAT WRITERS IN 2014 MUST TRY TO ANSWER as you attempt to explain what happened in the chapter immediately before Chapter X;
1.) What words did the servant girl use to warn Jacob of the danger he is in from Meg Strouns ? Is there any clue as to why he finds it so unbelievable that Meg Strouns wishes him ill?
2.) What was Joe crying so loudly about ? Was he merely calling out loudly to get Jacob’s attention? Who is Joe Muffles? Is he a friend of Jacob ? How did Jacob, “put Joe in so much trouble”?
3) Describe how Jacob leaves Lot Poddlegreed’s house and then comes to be accosted by Joe Muffles.
4) Is selfish motive really the only thing that “induces a person to cause another trouble?” Is it truly non-creditable that a person could do another intentional harm capriciously ?
Entries longer than 802 words will be accepted, but in the event that they are chosen as the winner. they will need to be edited and parsed down on a later date
At the seance, you should not give us any information identifying the author on the same pages that contain your story. When you submit your entry, you have to provide your email and name but these must be on a separate piece of paper. We want to judge the entries with no knowledge of who you are. After all, you are Charles Dickens, no?
The winner will be informed via e-mail, and announced on the Write Action Website, the University of Brattleboro website, and on the air on WVEW, 107.7 lp FM
All decisions of the screeners and judge are final, and are not subject to appeal.
Contact rolf.parkerhoughton@gmail.com with any questions.