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Young Dickens in love: sugary, and waxinglyrical about glovesA new exhibition explores the faltering relationship between the novelist and his rst love MariaBeadnell and the resulting, questionable, poetry

Alison Flood

The earliest known portrait of Charles Dickens, aged 18. Click here to see the full image. Photograph: Charles DickensMuseum, London

Friday 13 February 2015 17.47 GMT

A halting acrostic poem, ending with the sugary couplet Life has no charms, nohappiness, no pleasures, now for me/ Like those I feel, when tis my lot Maria, to gaze onthee, oers little clue to the glittering literary career that was to follow. But, 185 yearsafter the 18-year-old Charles Dickens fell in love with Maria Beadnell, an exhibitionpromises to shed light on his earliest literary eorts, with a selection of his love poetryon public view for the rst time.

Dickens was working as a reporter when he fell for the 20-year-old Beadnell in 1830, andpursued her for three years, going on to immortalise her as the characters of DoraSpenlow in David Coppereld and Flora Finching in Little Dorrit. The Charles DickensMuseum in London opens a new exhibition this week featuring the authors love poemsto Beadnell, including the acrostic poem in homage to the bankers daughter that is therst known example of his literary work.

My life may chequered be with scenes of misery and pain, Andt may be my fate tostruggle with adversity in vain, wrote the young Dickens in Beadnells album, on displayat the museum. Regardless of misfortunes tho howeer bitter they may be, I shallalways have one retrospect, a hallowed one to me, And it will be of that happy timewhen rst I gazed on thee.

Beadnell seemed enchantingly pretty to him, even with eyebrows that almost met inthe middle, writes Claire Tomalin in her acclaimed biography of the author. She was

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capricious and, to judge by what she later became, silly.

Dickens poem Lodgings to Let, in which the young man states that, Then I will say sanshesitation/ This place shall be my habitation/ This charming spot my home shall be/While dear Maria keeps the key, is being displayed for the rst time as part of theexhibition. Also on show is the writers lengthy poem The Bill of Fare, transcribed fromthe original by Beadnells sister Margaret Lloyd. Dickens, among 360 lines of poetry,compares himself in the text to a young Summer Cabbage, without any heart; / Notthat hes heartless, but because, as folks say,/ He lost his a twelve month ago, from lastMay.

A letter from the time, meanwhile, sees the author wax lyrical on the topic of gloves,loquaciously insisting that my dear Maria (I fear I ought to say Miss Beadnell but Ihope you will pardon my adhering to the manner in which I have been accustomed toaddress you) must not refuse the gift of a pair. Surely, surely you will not refuse sotrivial a present: a mere common place trie; a common present even among the merestfriends. Do not misunderstand me: I am not desirous by making presents or by doingany other act to inuence your thoughts, wishes, or feelings in the slightest degree. I donot think I do: I cannot hope I ever shall: but let me entreat of you do not refuse soslight a token of regard from me.

The adult Dickens would write to Beadnell years later, in 1855, revealing again thedepths of his devotion. Whatever of fancy, romance, energy, passion, aspiration, anddetermination belong to me, I never have separated and never shall separate from thehard-hearted little woman you whom it is nothing to say I would have died for, withthe greatest alacrity! wrote the then successful author. I never can think, and I neverseem to observe, that other young people are in such desperate earnest, or set so much,so long, upon one absorbing hope. It is a matter of perfect certainty to me that I began toght my way out of poverty and obscurity, with one perpetual idea of you.

Several letters were exchanged before the two met up; despite Beadnells warnings thatshe was no longer the young woman Dickens remembered, the novelist was shocked byher appearance. He wrote to one of his admirers, the Duke of Devonshire: We have allhad our Floras, mine is living and extremely fat.

The letters before their meeting were very long, said the museums curator LouisaPrice; there followed a signicant gap once the pair had met, and when the lettersbegan again they were very short and formal. Poor Maria.

Dickens rst love, Maria Beadnell, aged 19 in 1831. Photograph: Charles Dickens Museum

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Price said that the lm of The Invisible Woman meant that a great deal of attention hasbeen paid recently to Dickenss later love interest, Ellen Ternan. We wanted to highlightthe story of Dickenss rst love, Maria, to balance this, she said. Dickens pursued Mariafor three years at a signicant period of his life. He said himself that she wasinstrumental in helping him raise his expectations of life and better himself as a man.She inspired the beloved character of Dora Spenlow in David Coppereld and also FloraFinching in Little Dorrit some would say, his best comic character. I think there is astrong case to say we never forget our rst love.

Price added that there was also the comic element to the duos story, including theinability of Mrs Beadnell to get Dickenss name right she would call him Mr Dickin and the fact Dickens was pursuing Maria at the same time as other men. The novelistwould later reproach Beadnell for playing him o against other danglers, said thecurator.

The love poems of Young DickensAcrosticMy life may chequered be with scenes of misery and pain,Andt may be my fate to struggle with adversity in vain:Regardless of misfortunes tho howeer bitter they may be,I shall always have one retrospect, a hallowed one to me,And it will be of that happy time when rst I gazed on thee.Blighted hopes, and prospects drear, for me will lose their sting,Endless troubles shall harm not me, when fancy on the wingA lapse of years shall travel oer, and again before me castDreams of happy eeting moments then for ever past:

Not any worldly pleasure has such magic charms for meEen now, as those short moments spent in company with thee;Life has no charms, no happiness, no pleasures, now for meLike those I feel, when tis my lot Maria, to gaze on thee.

Lodgings to LetLodgings here! A charming place,The Owners such a lovely faceThe Neighbours too seem very prettyLively, sprightly, gay, and witty

Pages of poems written by Charles Dickens in the album of Maria Beadnell. Photograph: Charles Dickens Museum, London

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Of all the spots that I could ndThis is the place to suit my mind.

Then I will say sans hesitationThis place shall be my habitationThis charming spot my home shall beWhile dear Maria keeps the key,Ill settle here, no more Ill roamBut make this place my happy home.

A great advantage too will be,I shall keep such good company,So good that I fear my composingWill be considered very prosingStill Im most proud amongst these pickingsTo rank the humblest name. Charles Dickens

(Reproduced by courtesy of Charles Dickens Museum, London)

The exhibition will run at the Charles Dickens Museum, London, until 19 April.