Learn about 'Dickens at 200' Jan. 29 at library

Linda Putnam will present "Dickens at 200" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Lisle Public Library, 777 Front St. The year 2012 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. Has it really been that long? "Dickens at 200" will examine Dickens' birth and early, formative years, then glide over to the days when he was writing his powerful and famous novels.

To celebrate his birthday, Linda will explore four of his important works in which a fictional birth takes place and how each one is expressed by Dickens. They will observe a birth or two in "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield," "Dombey and Son" and "A Tale of Two Cities," and note the likenesses and differences among all of them. Some of them are very clear and unmistakable, and some are very unclear and could almost be overlooked by the fast reader. Dickens uses a very distinct style for each birth in each novel.

At the same time, the important events taking place in Dickens' own personal life are discussed, showing the intertwining relationships between his real life and his fiction.

All of this highlights elements of the great writer's style, and entwines his own personal life with the lives of his characters. Through an explanation of Dickens' life and work, he is virtually resurrected on his 200th.