Bookcases and bookshelves have been used by people for a long time and are a great way of storing tomes, as well as many other objects. Indeed, these days there are a huge range of such products available to consumers and very few homes are without them.
However, a number of bookcases with a difference are forming part of a cultural experience in the south of England at present.
Since December 8th, a collection of books by Charles Dickens has been open to the public for the first time in nearly a century, the Kent News reports. The series of works, which is called the Fitzgerald Collection, is one of the world’s most comprehensive records of the author’s work.
It was named after the Percy Fitzgerald, who was a fellow writer and critic and also a close friend of Dickens. The literary expert was also the first president of The Dickens Fellowship, which was founded in 1902 and is a global association of individuals who share an interest in the life and works of Dickens.
Now, those keen to get a look at the books can visit the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre and request to view the tomes, which are still kept in Fitzgerald’s original bookshelves. The items can be seen at the archive centre in the Clock Tower building in Strood but tables must be booked in advance.
The collection contains all of Dickens’ major works, plus many of his minor novels. Meanwhile, there are also first editions, translations and photographs of the author, along with a scrapbook containing Victorian picture cards.
Before reaching the archives centre, the books and other items were stored at the Eastgate House Museum in Rochester, which was the institution Fitzgerald donated them to.
In honour of the launch of the collection last month, a Dickensian day involving talks and a play was held at the new home of the books.