Name Mrs Linda McCarthy

Telephone: 01653 698701

Email: mccarthyculloden@aol.com

Address: Brooks End, Town Street, Old Malton, North Yorkshire,

YO17 7HD

Talk Titles:

DICKENS AND THE YORKSHIRE CONNECTION – Explains how Dickens became

friends with Malton solicitor Charles Smithson and how he came to visit the area on many occasions.

Includes extracts of Wackford Squeers from Nicholas Nickleby, Sairey Gamp from Martin Chuzzlewit

and Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.

SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD – a look at the development of education during Dickens’s

time. Illustrated with pictures, quotes and plenty of humour.

WHAT ON EARTH’S THAT? - An antiques guessing game using a wide selection of odd and curious

genuine artefacts from Victorian/Edwardian times. This is a very ‘hands-on’ experience – suitable for

smaller groups of up to 30.

DICKENS’S CHARACTERS – Extracts from some of Dickens’ best loved novels showing his acute

powers of description and observation. Meet the good, the bad and the ugly including: Mrs. Gamp,

Wackford Squeers, David Copperfield and many others.

DICKENS’ WOMEN – We look at Dickens’s complicated relationships with his mother, wife, daughters,

friends and mistress and how they were portrayed in his novels.

LIFE IN THE WORKHOUSE – A disturbing reminder, of how the poor and desperate were treated

during the nineteenth century and how the workhouse could impact on anyone’s life. With illustrations and extracts from workhouse documents.

DICKENS AND HIS CHILDREN – Dickens had ten children with his long-suffering wife Catherine. Find

out who they were and discover more about Dickens as a ‘family’ man. Performed at 2015 Ryedale

Book Festival.

YOU DON’T LOOK WELL! – A look at health, illness and remedies in Victorian England – not as

gruesome as it could be with lots of amusing information, anecdotes and illustrations. A talk that makes us appreciative of the NHS!!

DICKENS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES – Find out about Dickens’ relationships with Wilkie Collins,

Mrs. Gaskell, Hans Christian Anderson and others who were the literary giants of Victorian times.

THE STREET CHILDREN OF DICKENS’ LONDON – A look at the situations endured by many

children in Victorian times and those who helped to change their circumstances. A challenge to our

modern day attitudes – The more things change – the more they stay the same!!

DICKENS, DETECTION AND DIRTY DEEDS – an investigation into some of the crimes and criminals

in Dickens’s novels and the most notorious real life cases of Victorian England and there similarity to

famous crimes of 20 th century. Ends with a musical quiz of famous detective themes! Gets the little grey cells working!

THE OLDEST PROFESSION – A whistle stop journey through the history of prostitution with plenty of

humour and lesser known facts, involving kings and politicians! Not rude enough to offend the most

delicate disposition!!

BETTER TO BE STRONG THAN PRETTY AND USELESS – A look at how Dickens portrayed women

in his novels and why.

DICKENS – THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS? – A look at the history of our Christmas

customs and how Dickens influenced our modern day Christmas festival. A fun and informative talk with colourful seasonal display.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – A presentation based on an edited version of Dickens’ best known and

probably most loved book.

DICKENS - THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS – based on the meaning of flowers and how the

Victorians loved sending secret messages in a well chosen bouquet. We will focus on how certain

flower messages apply to some of Dickens’ characters.

THE MARSHALSEA DEBTORS’ PRISON – the reality of life in the prison reflected by Dickens in Little

Dorrit and based on his personal experience of this gruesome place

THE REAL OLIVER TWIST – with extracts from Dickens’s novel we compare it to the life and times of

Robert Blincoe – another workhouse boy, as well as identifying the real life people whom Dickens used as inspiration for one of his best loved and familiar stories.

DICKENS, UNDERTAKERS & DEATH – Why the Victorians were so pre-occupied with death, how

undertakers took advantage of this and how Dickens lampooned undertakers in his novels. A not too

serious examination of the one certainty we all face. More fun than it sounds!

DICKENS AND FOOD – A look at how the Victorians influenced our eating habits today (including

Queen Victoria herself) and how Dickens used food in his novels as well as learning about his own

personal preferences.

I’M IN WITH THE IN-CROWD - A look at some of the most prominent artistic members of

Dickens’s circle of friends and acquaintances – some friendly and some not so.

DICKENS FROM START TO FINISH – extracts from Dickens’s most famous beginnings and

endings of his novels including an examination of why he wrote in the way he did – not as dry as

it sounds – plenty of amusing anecdotes.

TWO NATIONS DIVIDED BY A SINGLE LANGUAGE? A comical look at the idiosyncrasies of

the English language and what is spoken in the USA. Useful if you’re planning a trip ‘across the

pond’’.

Areas of Specialism: Aspects of 19 th Century History, Dickens and Other Oddities! Sometimes in costume

Do you offer online talks? If so are they interactive? Yes and some of the talks are interactive but not all.

Do you offer face to face talks? Yes – I prefer this, I find it makes for a livelier session!

What is your speakers fee? £30-£50 depending on distance travelled

What extras do you charge? Consider travel etc – Only travel which I would include in the fee

How far do you travel throughout the region? Within a 45 miles radius of Malton.

Do you have any exclusions? None – however please note I would not

talk to a political club/organisation.