"MORE DICKENS! MORE DICKENS!" ~ The Dickens Project Opens December 14th

It’s December, and for many people in the English speaking world that means Dickens – Charles Dickens.  The Nineteenth Century author wrote Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations among  nearly two dozen other novels, a bushel of short stories, and a passel of non-fiction.  Of course, he is also the author of A Christmas Carol, which will be seen on stages and screens, both large and small, all over the world this month.  2012 also happens to be the 200^th anniversary of his birth, which is being celebrated in Second Life © as well as in the Real World.

There have been many tributes to the author in the metaverse this year.  Friday, December 14^th sees the opening of The Dickens Project on Info Island in the Community Virtual Library Estate.  What makes this tribute different? 

The Dickens Project is a celebration of the works of Charles Dickens through live voice presentations of the author’s words primarily, but not exclusively, A Christmas Carol. 

Co-sponsored by Stories Unlimited! and the Community Virtual Library, The Dickens Project is an interactive environment for the live presentation of A Christmas Carol and other Dickens work.  Produced by StoryFest Events, The Dickens Project is free to all Second Life Residents with donations benefiting the Community Virtual Library.

Guests will be able to enjoy everything from the Avatar Repertory Theater presenting Ada Radius’ adaptation of the novella on December 15th, to single section readings of the five “staves” of A Christmas Carol presented daily at European and North American-friendly times December 17^th through 21^st.  Voices include Corwyn Allen, Ixmal Supermarine, Dubhna Rhiadra, Kayden Oconnell, Caledonia Skytower, and Elrik Merlin among others. That’s not all!  There’s more! 

The Dickens Project site also features places to explore as part of the literary celebration:

·        Visit Scrooge & Marley’s, and the Poulterer’s Shop (“You mean the one as big as me?”).

·        Get a roasted chestnut on the street, an apple or a candy stick in the Grocer’s Shop.

·        Get the texts of the Staves of A Christmas Carol to follow along from the Bookseller’s Shop.

·        Enjoy three “Gardens” celebrating visual artists inspired by Dickens Christmas Classic: Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.

·        Explore the second level and enjoy the Galleries: Notable Scrooge’s, Dicken’s London, and of course The Works of Charles Dickens.  Don’t forget to click!  There’s links a plenty in the galleries, which is accessible through the Bookseller’s Shop or on either side of Scrooge & Marley’s.

Ever wonder what inspired the creation of the character Ebenezer Scrooge?  Ever wonder why Dicken’s wrote A Christmas Carol and then followed it up with a Christmas novella a year for the next five years?  You can discover all these things at The Dickens Project.

The Dickens Project will be open to Second Life Residents Friday, December 14^th through Thursday, December 27^th.  Check out the StoryFest Events Blog for the latest updates and schedule.  
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/178/205/23

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