Charles Dickens

crich70 · 02-12-2012, 03:06 PM

I was reading an article in a recent issue of Time this afternoon and found that Charles Dickens had his 200th birthday on the 7th of this month. He was born Feb. 7th 1812. Despite how long ago he was born his novels are still read and made into movies. Happy (belated) Birthday Mr. Dickens where ever you may be.

HarryT · 02-12-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I was reading an article in a recent issue of Time this afternoon and found that Charles Dickens had his 200th birthday on the 7th of this month. He was born Feb. 7th 1812. Despite how long ago he was born his novels are still read and made into movies. Happy (belated) Birthday Mr. Dickens where ever you may be.

Have you been living at the bottom of a well for the last week?

We've not been able to turn on the TV or radio around here without hearing items related to the bicentennial of Dickens's birth!

crich70 · 02-12-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you been living at the bottom of a well for the last week?

We've not been able to turn on the TV or radio around here without hearing items related to the bicentennial of Dickens's birth!

Actually I haven't watched much news the last week. Of course part of that was the fact that I started out last week with a case of the flu. The flu shot helped in that it wasn't as bad as it could have been but it's still not much fun having it on top of Diabetes.

mrbanana · 02-12-2012, 03:41 PM

I know I'm being picky, but how can he have a 200th birthday? I thought he died in 1870.

Or is it an example of granny logic: If your great Aunt Ada hadn't died in a shootout with the police in 1963, she'd be 87 today.

HarryT · 02-12-2012, 03:43 PM

It's not necessary for someone to be alive to celebrate the anniversary of their birth. It is still the bicentennial of Dickens's birth regardless of whether or not he's still alive.

mrbanana · 02-12-2012, 03:45 PM

birthday is not the same as anniversary of their birth, even though a birthday is a form of anniversary.

HarryT · 02-12-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbanana

birthday is not the same as anniversary of their birth, even though a birthday is a form of anniversary.

Can you tell me why you think it matters? The fact remains that we've just had the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man who is perhaps the greatest ever novelist in the English language. I, for one, am going to use the occasion to re-read and enjoy his wonderful books, not debate whether it's correct to call it a "birthday".

Apache · 02-12-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Can you tell me why you think it matters? The fact remains that we've just had the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man who is perhaps the greatest ever novelist in the English language. I, for one, am going to use the occasion to re-read and enjoy his wonderful books, not debate whether it's correct to call it a "birthday".

It is still the day he was born on 200, years later.
Apache

carpetmojo · 02-12-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbanana

birthday is not the same as anniversary of their birth, even though a birthday is a form of anniversary.

Picking at nits ?

crich70 · 02-12-2012, 05:05 PM

Actually if you really wanted to be literal we each only have one birthday (the day on which we're born) but it is easier to say Happy Birthday than to say Happy Ani. of the day you were born. And Dickens isn't the only man of literature whose Birthday is still observed either. Many still remember William Shakespeare's birthday for example. Or when his birthday is believed to have been anyway. He was baptized on April 26th of 1564 so it's likely his birthday was around the 23rd of the month.

DrNefario · 02-12-2012, 05:11 PM

I'm not completely sure why it's his birth that's deemed to be important. It was still a while before he started producing any books.

Apache · 02-12-2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Actually if you really wanted to be literal we each only have one birthday (the day on which we're born) but it is easier to say Happy Birthday than to say Happy Ani. of the day you were born. And Dickens isn't the only man of literature whose Birthday is still observed either. Many still remember William Shakespeare's birthday for example. Or when his birthday is believed to have been anyway. He was baptized on April 26th of 1564 so it's likely his birthday was around the 23rd of the month.

Also Edgar Alan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and who could forget Rudyard Kipling.
Apache

GlenBarrington · 02-13-2012, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you been living at the bottom of a well for the last week?

We've not been able to turn on the TV or radio around here without hearing items related to the bicentennial of Dickens's birth!

Well, where you live, Dickens might be a local hero. That makes a big difference in the hoopla. I grew up in Springfield, Illinois. Dickens' Birthday just isn't high on the list of things to celebrate there. Now, in Springfield, we take every opportunity to take advantage of celebrating Abraham Lincoln's existence however. In the American Presidential election cycle, you can guarantee that all candidates will come to Springfield to disrupt traffic.

Actually, in the USA, Dickens is an author English teachers use to torture 14 year old boys with. The books are big, have no car crashes or spaceships in them, and everyone talks and talks and talks. It isn't until we are older that some of us learn to appreciate just how cool he really is. Dickens could use a good publicist and a marketing plan.

fantasyfan · 02-13-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Can you tell me why you think it matters? The fact remains that we've just had the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man who is perhaps the greatest ever novelist in the English language. I, for one, am going to use the occasion to re-read and enjoy his wonderful books, not debate whether it's correct to call it a "birthday".

Same here!

QuantumIguana · 02-13-2012, 11:17 AM

The primary definition of 'birthday' is the anniversary of a birth, so, we do use it in the literal sense. To refer to the actual day and year someone was born is a secondary definition.

We could say "Congratulations on the anniversary of your birth", and that would also be accurate, but would be considered unusual.

02-12-2012, 03:06 PM	#1
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Charles Dickens I was reading an article in a recent issue of Time this afternoon and found that Charles Dickens had his 200th birthday on the 7th of this month. He was born Feb. 7th 1812. Despite how long ago he was born his novels are still read and made into movies. Happy (belated) Birthday Mr. Dickens where ever you may be.

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02-12-2012, 03:41 PM	#4
mrbanana Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 250536 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: sony 505	I know I'm being picky, but how can he have a 200th birthday? I thought he died in 1870. Or is it an example of granny logic: If your great Aunt Ada hadn't died in a shootout with the police in 1963, she'd be 87 today.

02-12-2012, 03:43 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's not necessary for someone to be alive to celebrate the anniversary of their birth. It is still the bicentennial of Dickens's birth regardless of whether or not he's still alive.

02-12-2012, 03:45 PM	#6
mrbanana Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 250536 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: sony 505	birthday is not the same as anniversary of their birth, even though a birthday is a form of anniversary.

02-12-2012, 05:05 PM	#10
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Actually if you really wanted to be literal we each only have one birthday (the day on which we're born) but it is easier to say Happy Birthday than to say Happy Ani. of the day you were born. And Dickens isn't the only man of literature whose Birthday is still observed either. Many still remember William Shakespeare's birthday for example. Or when his birthday is believed to have been anyway. He was baptized on April 26th of 1564 so it's likely his birthday was around the 23rd of the month.

02-12-2012, 05:11 PM	#11
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,099 Karma: 11315768 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I'm not completely sure why it's his birth that's deemed to be important. It was still a while before he started producing any books.

02-13-2012, 11:17 AM	#15
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	The primary definition of 'birthday' is the anniversary of a birth, so, we do use it in the literal sense. To refer to the actual day and year someone was born is a secondary definition. We could say "Congratulations on the anniversary of your birth", and that would also be accurate, but would be considered unusual.

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