Frome author launches novel about Charles Dickens’ wife

A Frome author is set to launch her new book about Charles Dickens’ wife with a signing at Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books.

Annie Elliot will be dressed as Mrs Dickens at the signing of Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens – Her Story ‘So the world may know he loved me once’ before embarking on a nationwide tour giving talks as Mrs Dickens herself.

The launch coincides with a new exhibition about Mrs Dickens at The Charles Dickens Museum in London, where Annie’s book will feature as part of the display.

“I was planning to hire The Charles Dickens Museum to celebrate the publication of my novel. It seemed the ideal place as the museum is based in the house in Doughty Street where the couple lived at the start of their marriage. I wanted to thank the staff and volunteers for their help with my research and fact-checking the first draft of my manuscript,” Annie said.

“They were so kind and helpful. Being able to access their archives and hold the actual letters Catherine Dickens had written to Charles and their children was such a privilege. Volunteers, many of whom have master’s degrees in Dickens Studies, checked what I had written. This gave me the confidence to know that my work was accurate.”

She added, “I asked about hire costs and they took some details. I had no idea they were planning an exhibition which would feature Mrs Dickens and other extraordinary women in the famous author’s life and was delighted when they offered to make my book a part of it. They advertised the event on their website and are taking bookings for the free tickets to attend in person or remotely on 18th March. After 30 years of studying and writing, it seems I am finally in the right place at the right time. I cannot believe my luck.”

Annie held a life-long dream to write a book, but with three young children and two stepchildren to care for, along with the need to contribute to the family finances, she never had the time. Retirement finally gave her the opportunity to focus on writing. She enrolled at Bath Spa University to study for a master’s degree in creative writing.

“I decided it was now or never. Now in my 60s, I needed to go all out to get the book written or admit I was never going to do it. Fay Weldon was one of my tutors. She gave my confidence a huge boost when she said I was a natural writer, my novel was completely brilliant, and literary agents would see it was going to be a bestseller and snap it up,” Annie said.

“Sadly, this was not the case. Agents say if they haven’t responded within three months, they are not interested. I didn’t have time to wait, so I decided to self-publish – but my luck was in again. A publisher stepped in and signed me up.”

Her novel uses the letters Charles wrote to his wife to fulfil Mrs Dickens’ dying wish to tell the world he loved her once, despite treating her cruelly when, aged 45, he fell in love with an 18-year-old actress.

“My publisher is called ‘Envelope Books’, so we are an ideal match. They put me at the top of their list and went to press within nine months,” Annie said.

Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens – Her Story ‘So the world may know he loved me once’ will be published on 1st March. Annie will sign copies dressed as Mrs Dickens at Hunting Raven Bookshop in Frome from 11am to 1pm.