The New York Public Library has an exhibit on characters of Charles Dickens, including illustrations, notes, merchandising (he was very into this) and some astonishing quotes. Like this one: “If I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss.”
Hum, Readers all, shall we parse this? Charles Dickens wanted to wed Little Red because:
Younger is better?
He had a thing for hoods?
- Gullible is good?
- Distracted is good?
- Not listening to instructions leads to bliss?
- Girls so myopic they can’t tell the difference between wolves and grandmas are just so adorable?
- Little girls in red are especially tasty?
- The never-real are always better?
Whatever did Mr. Dickens mean? And do we want to know? Ideas?
Pamela Schoenewaldt, historical novels of immigration and the search for self in new worlds: WHEN WE WERE STRANGERS, SWIMMING IN THE MOON, and UNDER THE SAME BLUE SKY (all HarperCollins).
pamelaschoenewaldt.com 
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