Charles Dicken's Extramarital Affair

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oi-Staff

By Staff

Monday, January 19, 2009, 14:54

Allegations about Charles Dickens' affair with his own sister-in-law has resurfaced with fresh evidence. A ring which once belonged to the celebrated author has found its way to be a highly auctioned item, is causing waves about the authors illegitimate children.

Georgia Hogarth, the housekeeper whose sister Dickens married, moved in their house later. She continued to stay with him even after her older sister left the author. Through out his life, Dicken's opposed the rumors about his children with Georgia.

However, an inscription on the gold ring with 0.9-carat diamond reveals that the it was gifted to Charles by his close friend and Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson. After that it ended in the possession of Hector Charles Bulwer Lytton Dickens, who claimed to be one of the illegitimate sons of the renowned author.

The ring along with two wills and newspaper clippings are being auction by the descendants of Hector Charles. "Hector Dickens acquired the ring from one of Charles Dickens's legitimate sons who had been given it by his father. Perhaps one reason he was prepared to part with what must have been a treasured possession is that they were half-brothers," Times Online quoted Nigel Ward, an auctioneer from Pontrilas, Herefordshire, as saying.

Charles Dickens lead a respectable life with his wife and 10 children, however, he describes the rumors about his affair with Georgia as 'monstrous misrepresentations' in his journal Household Words. Ward said: "The fact that Hector was Charles's son has long been the understanding of the ring's custodians."

This ring is capable of turning Dickens' history 'on its head' as said by the curator of the Dickens Museum in Doughty Street, Central London, Florian Schweizer.

He said: "There have been rumours of them having an affair but it has never been substantiated because there has never been any reliable evidence emerge. They lived together for the last 13 years with Georgina as a friend and companion, but Dickens also had a mistress at the same time."

The ring will be auctioned at a guide price of 25,000-35,000 pounds on February 21. AGENCIES