Dickens on the Tories

With an Introduction by F. G. Kitton

Charles Dickens

• Publisher: Read & Co. Books
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528789707
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Political Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

"Dickens on the Tories" contains a collection of verse satires by Charles Dickens related to the Tory party of the United Kingdom, whom he despised and abhorred. Displeased with their return to power, he originally considered standing for the Liberals before writing "The Fine Old English Gentleman", "The Quack Doctor's Proclamation", and "Subjects for Painters" to vent his anger. Also includes: "The British Lion a New Song but an Old Story", and "The Hymn of the Wiltshire Labourers" and an introductory chapter by F. G. Kitton. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812–1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "Oliver Twist" or "A Christmas Carol", Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "The Pickwick Papers", which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character.

SUBJECTS
FOR PAINTERS

After Peter Pindar

To you, Sir Martin, and your co. R.A.’s,

I dedicate in meek, suggestive lays,

Some subjects for your academic palettes;

Hoping, by dint of these my scanty jobs,

To fill with novel thoughts your teeming nobs,

As though I beat them in with wooden mallets.

To you, Maclise, who Eve’s fair daughters paint

With Nature’s hand, and want the maudlin taint

Of the sweet Chalon school of silk and ermine:

To you, E. Landseer, who from year to year

Delight in beasts and birds, and dogs and deer,

And seldom give us any human vermin:

—To all who practise art, or make believe,

I offer subjects they may take or leave.

Great Sibthorp and his butler, in debate

(Arcades ambo) on affairs of state,

Not altogether ‘gone,’ but rather funny;

Cursing the Whigs for leaving in the lurch

Our d—d good, pleasant, gentlemanly Church,

Would make a picture—cheap at any money.

Or Sibthorp as the Tory Sec.—at-War,

Encouraging his mates with loud ‘Yhor! Yhor!

From Treas’ry benches’ most conspicuous end;

Or Sib.’s mustachios curling with a smile,

As an expectant Premier without guile

Calls him his honourable and gallant friend.

Or Sibthorp travelling in foreign parts,

Through that rich portion of our Eastern charts

Where lies the land of popular tradition;

And fairly worshipp’d by the true devout

In all his comings-in and goings-out,

Because of the old Turkish superstition.

Fame with her trumpet, blowing very hard,

And making earth rich with celestial lard,

In puffing deeds done through Lord Chamberlain Howe;

While some few thousand persons of small gains,

Who give their charities wit...