Now, what could be
more unlike than the "ways" of Dickens and Thackeray? The subjects
chosen by these great authors are not more diverse than their
styles. Thackeray writes like a scholar, not in the narrow sense,
but rather as a student and a master of all the refinements and
resources of language. Dickens copies the chaff of the street, or
he roams into melodramatics, "drops into poetry"--blank verse at
least--and touches all with peculiarities, we might say mannerisms,
of his own. I have often thought, and even tried to act on the
thought, that some amusing imaginary letters might be written, from
characters of Dickens about characters of Thackeray, from characters
of Thackeray about characters of Dickens. They might be supposed to
meet each other in society, and describe each other. Can you not
fancy Captain Costigan on Dick Swiveller, Blanche Amory on Agnes,
Pen on David Copperfield, and that "tiger" Steerforth? What would
the family solicitor of "The Newcomes" have to say of Mr.
Tulkinghorn? How would George Warrington appreciate Mr. Pickwick?
Yes, the two great novelists were as opposed as two men could be--in
manner, in style, in knowledge of books, and of the world. And yet
how admirably Thackeray writes about Dickens, in his letters as in
his books! How he delights in him! How manly is that emulation
which enables an author to see all the points in his rival, and not
to carp at them, but to praise, and be stimulated to keener effort!
Consider this passage.
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