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Aunt Georgy
The life of Georgina Hogarth
(A sister-in-law of Charles Dickens)
Georgina Hogarth (Aunt Georgy) was a younger sister of Catherine Dickens the wife of the famous novelist Charles Dickens. Georgina lived with her sister and brother-in-law for many years, cared for their children, ran their house and was with the great man when he died.
Charles Dickens was a prolific writer. His work, particularly his novels, became hugely popular in his lifetime and remains internationally renowned today. In praise of great English writers, Dickens and Shakespeare are often bracketed together. It was not uncommon in Victorian times for a younger sister of a bride to live with her brother-in-law and his wife. Dickens married Catherine Hogarth and her younger sister Mary moved in with the newlyweds. Mary died soon after. Several years later, Georgina Hogarth, another of Catherine’s younger sisters took on the role first played by her sister Mary.
Georgina Hogarth never married, became a helpmate to her sister Catherine who bore Dickens ten children, and a housekeeper/nanny to this family. Georgina became a co-executor of the will of Charles Dickens, edited a collection of his letters and had an intimate view of the comings and goings in the Dickens household.
Dickens once said of Georgina, “No man on earth ever had such a friend as I have had – and have – in her. She is the most unselfish, zealous and devoted creature”.
Aunt Georgy is a play for a mature female actress, around 50 years of age and older. Georgina was in her early 40s when Dickens died and she lived until she was 91. Georgina – a spinster, aged between 60 and 85. If the play is set in 1887, Georgina will be 60. If the play is set in 1907, she will be 80. Dickens died in 1870, Georgina in 1917.
Aunt Georgy is available for public performances from after March 27 2010 (when it will have its world premiere in Australia.) A Preview script is available from our download area here
Plays by Cenarth Fox about Charles Dickens
Aunt Georgy is one of two stage works about Charles Dickens written by Cenarth Fox. The other, BOZ, is coming soon. BOZ is a musical about the life and times of the great novelist.
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