Dombey and Son

At one time, a fixture of BBC Sunday teatime schedules was the classic serial. I remember this when it was first broadcast, and the big impression that it made on me. It encouraged me to read Dickens, and although I wouldn't call myself a fan of Dickens, I did read several of his novels, reacting to them with a mixture of enjoyment and frustration. The recent issue of this serial on DVD enabled me to have another look at it. Nearly fifty years on, I can see why it grabbed my attention. It is a very effective dramatization. It tells the story of Paul Dombey, a rich businessman who is desperate for a son to carry on the business. His first child is a daughter, Florence, but women are of no importance in his world. His second child is a son, but his wife dies after giving birth, and his son is a sickly child who will also die while still a schoolboy. He then enters into a second marriage. It is a loveless marriage. He does not see his new wife, Edith as any more of a person than his daughter Florence. He does, however, deeply resent that they get on well together, and tries to put a stop to their friendship. All this is very effectively portrayed. I found myself becoming involved with these people and wanting to know what would become of them. To me, this is the BBC at it's best.