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| Plot Summary of Tatticoram |
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"This is the story of baby Harriet Coram, dropped off at a foundling home in mid-19th century England. Harriet goes on “loan” to a loving foster country family until she is five. With sorrow she returns to the foundling home to train in domestic duty.
When young headstrong Harriet is hired as a household maid for the illustrious Mr. Charles Dickens, she has a difficult time adjusting to a thorny relationship with Mrs. Dickens' young sister, Miss Georgina, who taunts her and nicknames her “Tattycoram” after the foundling home's uniform. Throughout Harriet is torn between serving the rich in their lavish settings and choosing the freedom of a poverty filled country life with her foster family.
Charles Dickens becomes Harriet's mentor but thirty years later someone from her past challenges her to confront Mr. Dickens about his unflattering portrayal of her in one of his books. Harriet must decide whether Charles Dickens's fame gives him the right to expose her character in an unflattering light.
Audrey Thomas writes this well researched short novel in a first person narrative with a historical peek at life from inside the home of Dickens and his mid 19th century London. The portrayal and language of the characters are true to form, with the exception of the antagonist, Miss Georgina who sounds much older than a 12 year old and is malicious beyond her years. Also, Dickens' betrayal, the main plot, is introduced at the end of the story and seems like a minor incident compared to all of Harriet's other trials and tribulations growing up as “a child of shame.” Overall, a very quick sweet book to read.
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Nancy Flinn Ludwin, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Tatticoram |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- very sensitive (sigh)
Time/era of story
- 19th century
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- struggling to earn a living to survive
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Age group of kid(s) in story:
- grade school
Parents/lack of parents problem?
- orphan story
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- servant
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- writer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 8 (a significant amount)
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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