As the invitation below indicates Charles Dickens was here in New York City on this date in 1868. The writer abroad was a staple of nineteenth century letters. Dickens, Mark Twain, and Alexis de Tocqueville are the three most famous examples the phenomenon. Dickens came to the United States twice.The first time was in the early 1840s. To go by what he wrote in “American Notes” the British author was unimpressed with the uncouth Yanks. His trip in 1867-1868, just a few years after the Civil War, went better. One can imagine that the ever-gracious Robert Roosevelt, uncle of the future president, had a hand in that. (KM) (Images: The invitation and an 1860s photograph of Delmonico’s 14th Street and 5th Avenue location.)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:59:21 +0000
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