The Charles Dickens Museum in London has launched a new exhibition titled "Faithful Companions: Charles Dickens & his Pets," which delves into the influence of animals in the works and home life of the renowned Victorian author. The exhibition, designed to be family-friendly, showcases a variety of animals that Dickens featured in his novels such as the bull terrier Bull’s-eye from "Oliver Twist" and the raven Grip from "Barnaby Rudge."
Grip, in particular, not only inspired Dickens but also caught the attention of Edgar Allan Poe, leading to the creation of the narrative poem "The Raven" in 1845. The exhibition includes insights into Dickens's personal interactions with pets through family photo albums, letters, illustrations, and paintings. It features stories of other animal companions like Dickens's eagle, various cats, dogs, horses, and goldfinches, illustrating their significant presence in Dickens's daily life and literary works.
Key pieces in the exhibit highlight the diversity of Dickens’s pets, such as the story of the original Grip and how subsequent ones continued to influence both Dickens and literary history. The exhibition also touches upon Dickens’s humor and affection toward his pets, despite occasional challenges.
"Faithful Companions" aims to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of Dickens’s character through the lens of his animal interactions and their impact on his storytelling. The exhibition is currently open to the public at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.