No Thoroughfare
Encyclopedia
No Thoroughfare is a stage play and novel by Charles Dickens
and Wilkie Collins
, both released in December 1867.
and Wilkie Collins
collaborated to produce a stage play titled No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 26 December 1867.
The novel No Thoroughfare was also first published in 1867, in the Christmas
number of Dickens' periodical All The Year Round
. There are thematic parallels with other books from Dickens' mature writings, including Little Dorrit
(1857) and especially Our Mutual Friend
(1865).
The publication of the story in All The Year Round represents an early example of commercial merchandising
, promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had met the book. The 'chapters' of the book are referred to as 'acts
', and match the acts of the play.
In the book Collins assisted in Act
1 and Act 4; Collins scripted most of the stage play with Dickens's assistance.
At 48,000 words it is the length of many modern novels .
are given the same name (Walter Wilding), with disastrous consequences in adulthood. After the death of one – now a proprietor of a wine merchant’s company - the executors, to right the wrong, are commissioned to find a missing heir. Their quest takes them from wine cellars in the City of London to the sunshine of the Mediterranean—across the Alps
in winter. Danger and treachery would prevail were it not for the courage of the heroine, Marguerite, and a faithful company servant.
. The tension builds to a spectacular scene in which Obenreizer, the villain, confronts the hero George Vendale, at the side of a mountain gorge. It has been performed only once since the 1867 West End premiere, in 1904 at a small theatre in Islington. However, on June 3, 2007 Primavera Productions
produced a staged reading, directed by Tom Littler, at the King's Head Theatre in London. The reading starred Loo Brealey
as Marguerite.
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
, both released in December 1867.
Background
In 1867 Charles DickensCharles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
collaborated to produce a stage play titled No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 26 December 1867.
The novel No Thoroughfare was also first published in 1867, in the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
number of Dickens' periodical All The Year Round
All the Year Round
All the Year Round was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous publication Household Words, abandoned due to...
. There are thematic parallels with other books from Dickens' mature writings, including Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit is a serial novel by Charles Dickens published originally between 1855 and 1857. It is a work of satire on the shortcomings of the government and society of the period....
(1857) and especially Our Mutual Friend
Our Mutual Friend
Our Mutual Friend is the last novel completed by Charles Dickens and is one of his most sophisticated works, combining psychological insight with social analysis. It centres on, in the words of critic J. Hillis Miller, "money, money, money, and what money can make of life" but is also about human...
(1865).
The publication of the story in All The Year Round represents an early example of commercial merchandising
Merchandising
Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer...
, promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had met the book. The 'chapters' of the book are referred to as 'acts
Act (theater)
An act is a division or unit of a drama. The number of acts in a production can range from one to five or more, depending on how a writer structures the outline of the story...
', and match the acts of the play.
In the book Collins assisted in Act
Act (theater)
An act is a division or unit of a drama. The number of acts in a production can range from one to five or more, depending on how a writer structures the outline of the story...
1 and Act 4; Collins scripted most of the stage play with Dickens's assistance.
The Novel
The story contains crafted descriptions, well-drawn and diverse characters, eerie and exotic backgrounds, mystery, semi-concealed identities, brinkmanship with death, romance, the eventual triumph of Good over Evil, and many other elements expected in classic Dickens.At 48,000 words it is the length of many modern novels .
Plot summary
Two boys from the Foundling HospitalFoundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
are given the same name (Walter Wilding), with disastrous consequences in adulthood. After the death of one – now a proprietor of a wine merchant’s company - the executors, to right the wrong, are commissioned to find a missing heir. Their quest takes them from wine cellars in the City of London to the sunshine of the Mediterranean—across the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
in winter. Danger and treachery would prevail were it not for the courage of the heroine, Marguerite, and a faithful company servant.
The stage play
The stage play follows a similar plotline, but is compressed and made particularly dramatic in the fourth act, which is set in the Swiss AlpsSwiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
. The tension builds to a spectacular scene in which Obenreizer, the villain, confronts the hero George Vendale, at the side of a mountain gorge. It has been performed only once since the 1867 West End premiere, in 1904 at a small theatre in Islington. However, on June 3, 2007 Primavera Productions
Primavera Productions
Primavera is a professional theatre company founded in 2003 by Tom Littler, who is also the Artistic Director. It is based in London, UK.Primavera is particularly noted for its revivals of rarely performed plays, although this does not seem to be its exclusive focus. This has included the...
produced a staged reading, directed by Tom Littler, at the King's Head Theatre in London. The reading starred Loo Brealey
Loo Brealey
Louise Brealey , also credited as Loo Brealey, is an English actress and journalist.-Early life and education:Born in Bozeat, Northamptonshire, England...
as Marguerite.