The unfinished Di...

This! This is what I wanted out of Dickens all this time! Engaging plot, colorful characters, concise chapters, women that don't suck - it's all here! So it is a double shame that Mr. Dickens died before he could finish what he had started...

Edwin Drood occupies a weird place in my mind. I, like many others who have read this novel, desperately want to find the answers to all of my questions - What happened to Edwin? Is he really dead? Who is Dick Datchery? And what's the deal with the old lady smoking opium? We will never get the answers to these questions. We may comfort ourselves with our theories and our speculations, but the only truth here is this - Dickens took the mystery of Edwin Drood to his grave. But wouldn't it also lose its charm if it was finished? I believe it would. Part of what makes The Mystery of Edwin Drood so alluring is that it is unsolvable and it is unsolvable precisely because it is incomplete. Would it still capture so many hearts and minds if Dickens had completed it? Or would it be another one of his many novels?

The edition that I read also included Clues to 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' by J. Cuming Walters. And here is where I have some issues. I agree with parts of his theory.

His description of how the murder was carried out by Jasper and how his plan might have been revealed I find pretty sound, even though a small part of me is still not entirely convinced that Edwin is dead. What I don't agree with is his candidate for Datchery - Helena Landless. His reasoning here seems to be built partially on evidence from the novel itself, partially on gender stereotypes and partially on his own personal headcanons - I don't think Dickens ever hinted at a romance plot between her and Crisparkle?? Not to mention the fact the anyone in Cloisterham who has eyes would have recognized that Datchery is just a woman in a wig. It's not a particularly convincing disguise. Also, his theory on Princess Puffer's role in all this is straight up whack - he seems to think that opium addiction is hereditary? The 'Princess Puffer is John Jasper's secret mother' theory is bullshit, it's incredibly flimsy.

So, my Dickens marathon has almost come to a close. I've left David Copperfield for dessert, as it is my favorite (and Dickens' favorite too!), so I will be ending it on a high note. See you all in a bit!