Charles Dickens' 200th Birthday

Today's Google Doodle celebrating Charles Dickens' bicentenary

Charles Dickens, Oil on Canvas
by William Powell Frith

I wasn't supposed to write a blogpost today... I'm tired and have a busy day... many classes and other stuff in my hands. I couldn't help it, though, not after having found so much stuff on Dickens and on his remarkable influence so long after his death.

Nick Gibb, the Minister of State for Schools, stated that "Every child ought to read a Dickens novel by the age of 11" but, according to the writer's biographer, Claire Tomalin, Charles Dickens' novels are "too long for today's young" due to their short attention spans. It is no doubt a shame because what he wrote so long ago is still "amazingly relevant". Anyway, regardless of other people's opinions or your age, have a look at these free Google eBooks - free digital copies of Dickens' books that have been carefully scanned by Google and they are FREE for all of you to read online - so no excuses then!!! Check:

A Christmas Carol

Great Expectations

A Tale of Two Cities

Bleak House

Celebrations are on in England and worldwide and if you would like to know what's on, check at Charles Dickens Museum and here. For us teachers and students, parents and children, do check this BBC link - it has got loads of information presented in an attractive way and includes some activities, namely a quiz as well as this fantastic British Council link - no surprise being by the BC, right?

Have a nice day :=)