The Dickens Project

Cue: dissolving into powder transition (as per Talia). Also, may we say that our “enormity effect” has been activated? Trivia night a success? And Hilary Schor’s hear me out is Mr GUPPY?

The 46th Dickens Universe continues! A Grand Party awaits, talent, talent, talent, and a gala? ✨✨✨✨

Barbara Leckie led this morning’s lecture on “How to Begin.” Leckie took us on a journey on Bleak House’s beginnings, thinking, and climate!

✨Hope you are joining us for afternoon tea at the Humanities plaza!

✨The 46th DU begins ✨

Beth Newman’s lecture on Bleak House’s Fixation starts our week!!

📚 Is Bleak House too difficult for today's students?

That was the question at the heart of this year's Dickens Day of Writing, where high school students from across the country took on one of Charles Dickens's most challenging and rewarding novels. Inspired by recent debates about reading levels and literary difficulty, participants explored the famous opening of Bleak House, discussed its themes, and crafted essays of their own with guidance from mentors and scholars. ✍️

The results? Thoughtful writing, lively conversations, and a reminder that students are often capable of far more than we give them credit for.

Read more here https://dickens.ucsc.edu/dickens-day-of-writing-2026-is-bleak-house-too-difficult/

🎬 How has Bleak House changed on screen over the years?

This year at the Dickens Universe, we're taking a different approach to our annual film program. Instead of screening a single adaptation, we'll explore the fascinating history of Bleak House on film and television—from early silent-era interpretations to the acclaimed BBC serials that introduced Dickens to new generations of viewers.

Join longtime Dickens film enthusiast Kirk Davis for a lively discussion comparing clips from multiple adaptations and considering how each version brings Dickens's sprawling novel, unforgettable characters, and critique of the legal system to life on screen.

📣 Looking to make the most of your week at the Dickens Universe? There are still plenty of opportunities to learn something new, meet fellow Dickensians, and explore the beauty of Santa Cruz.

✨ Learn needlepoint with Carol Pletcher (drop-in)

🌲 Sign up for a redwood hike with Mark Gordon on Tuesday afternoon
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI9K19QGc2p5JA8aPZPXoz80llhXmmqYreVYZYcua-qEcyfg/viewform)

🎨 Register for Gerry Mooney's printmaking workshop
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5XxpWfxDQ3BB5JKTSc_ArHKdBHUt8xp9zrq269YfM8zpcJA/viewform)

🎭 Share your talents during Thursday night's Talent Show
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwfu-oKyXNYCjYnL6xOy2tbk8gQ9jmAG8RPMFM0Sq2nZ7cDQ/viewform)

🎡 Explore the Santa Cruz Wharf and Boardwalk on Wednesday evening
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6IqzUx7EWMpeVFhuqGxug0Z8uGKkDogKpIpvE4KI8yg14qA/viewform)

💃 Take Victorian dance lessons with Annie Laskey (drop-in)

Tally-ho!

🎨 Ever wanted to bring Dickens to life through art?

This year at the Dickens Universe, illustrator Gerry Mooney will lead a week-long linoleum printmaking workshop inspired by Bleak House. Participants will learn the art of linocut printmaking and create their own prints, notecards, and more. Gerry's striking illustrations capture the fog, mud, and unforgettable characters of Dickens's world through a Victorian-era printmaking technique that feels right at home in Bleak House. Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

Read more: https://dickens.ucsc.edu/learn-the-art-of-linoleum-print-with-gerry-mooney/

📚 Missed a Bleak House discussion? Catch up anytime!

All available Santa Cruz Pickwick Club discussions on Bleak House are now available online through our YouTube channel. Whether you're reading along, revisiting favorite chapters, or preparing for upcoming conversations, you can watch presentations and discussions at your convenience.

Explore the full collection here:
https://dickens.ucsc.edu/programs/santa-cruz-pickwick-club/bleak-house-2/

Thank you to all of our presenters and participants for helping bring Dickens’s remarkable novel to life.

Dear Dickensians--Do you sing? Perform? Recite? Dabble in the dramatic arts (or the delightfully absurd)?

We’re hosting a Dickens Universe Talent Show, and we want you to take the stage. In the spirit of Victorian parlor entertainments, where music, recitation, and spectacle reigned, this is your chance to share your talents (or hidden party tricks) with the community.🎭

🎤All acts are welcome! From the sublime to the ridiculous.

We can’t wait to see what you bring to the stage—whether it’s brilliance, chaos, or something in between.

💌Email [email protected] if you're interested in performing!💌

✨Yours in anticipation (and mild theatrical suspense),
Gabriela & Victoria.✨

You’re invited… ✨

Step into a night of elegance and spectacle at the Turveydrop Gala—an evening inspired by Victorian grandeur (and perhaps a touch of fashionable deportment).

🗓 July 31
🕰 8:30–11:00 PM
📍 Stevenson Event Center, UC Santa Cruz

Join us for:
🎻 Live music
💃 Victorian dance
🎲 Casino games
🎁 Auction & refreshments

Hosted by The Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz, this is one of the highlights of the Dickens Universe week—you won’t want to miss it.

🎟 Tickets available now — link in bio