I’m a celebrity, get me out there

Dickens’ Irish tour in 1858 attracted some over-enthusiastic fans, writes Robert Hume

IN 1858 Charles Dickens, who was born 200 years ago today, went on a reading tour of Ireland. He had already made book tours of Scotland (1841), USA (1842) and Italy (1844).

Having separated from his wife, Catherine, a few months earlier, his travelling companion was his manager, Arthur Smith. He apologised to his (ten) children for not taking them, but his schedule was to be ‘so rapid and comfortless’ that they would not enjoy it.