London, Oct 24 (ANI): Portsmouth, the birthplace of Charles Dickens, has finally decided to lift the 80-year ban on the book, which portrayed the author in bad light.
Carl Roberts, through his novel, This Side Idolatry, written in 1928, intended to dismiss the myths surrounding Dickens and it caused an outrage when it was released.
"The author of the novel, Carl Roberts, has made out that Charles Dickens was a hypocrite, philanderer, selfish, an egoist, vulgar, morose, and avaricious, caricaturing his friends in his books behind their backs," The Sunday Times said in a review.
"Dickens in Roberts's novel is represented as unscrupulous in his dealings with his publishers, and was always prepared to treat promises and engagements lightly, and callously jested over the death of the artist who illustrated Pickwick Papers," it added.
It were these allegations which compelled the city's council to impose the ban on this novel but now, ahead of Dickens' 20th birth anniversary, the council has chosen to settle the rift and restore the books in the library.We've decided it's time to let bygones be bygones," the BBC quoted Dom Kippin, Portsmouth City Council's literature officer as saying.
"The library was acting in good faith at the time, protecting the legacy of Dickens, but we think it's important to have freedom of expression and debate. As Dickens himself would agree I'm sure."
"Dickens's literary legacy is strongly established and [Robert's] book merely adds to the rich tapestry of ideas and opinions that make him one of the English language's greatest writers," he added. (ANI)
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