Dickens and Smithfield
2012 May 1
Dickens quote West Smithfield Gardens
Taken on a guided walk during the rain in West Smithfield gardens where quotes from Dickens adorn the artwork. Despite the coverage of Dickens’ writing this year there has been scant writing about his relationship with animals. He was a supporter of the Battersea Dogs Home. Dickens’ companion animals included Williamina, a soft white Persian cat, who lived with him at Gad’s Hill with her deaf kitten. The kitten followed Dickens around ‘like a dog’ and put out his candle when Dickens was reading to get the author’s attention. The kitten was called ‘The master’s cat’. (Animals’ World 1893)
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