Tales: Sentiment by Charles Dickens
The narrative follows the Miss Crumptons, two sisters running a finishing school for young ladies in Hammersmith. They pride themselves on their strict propriety and the superficial education they provide. The arrival of a Member of Parliament's daughter, Lavinia Brook Dingwall, sparks excitement among the students and the Miss Crumptons, who hope to enhance their school's reputation. Lavinia's father seeks to rid her of "sentimental ideas" by placing her in the school, believing that the company of other girls will help. As preparations for a grand ball unfold, Lavinia remains detached and uninterested, despite the attention she receives. The ball serves as a backdrop for her unexpected reunion with Theodosius Butler, a young man she had previously loved under a different name. Their secret romance culminates in an elopement, shocking her father and the Miss Crumptons. In the aftermath, Mr. Brook Dingwall vows to never allow a pamphleteer into his home again, while Lavinia and Theodosius settle into a modest life, grappling with the consequences of their impulsive decision. The Miss Crumptons continue their operations, oblivious to the chaos their school has inadvertently caused, maintaining their facade of success and propriety.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1854 · Genre: Fiction, Victorian literature, Social Criticism · 4,878 words
First lines
The Miss Crumptons, or to quote the authority of the inscription on the garden-gate of Minerva House, Hammersmith, ‘The Misses Crumpton,' were two unusually tall, particularly thin, and exceedingly skinny personages: very upright, and very yellow. Miss Amelia Crumpton owned to thirty-eight, and Miss Maria Crumpton admitted she was forty; an admission which was rendered perfectly unnecessary by the self-evident fact of her being at least fifty. They dressed in the most interesting manner-like twins! and looked as happy and comfortable as a couple of marigolds run to seed. They were very precise, had the strictest possible ideas of propriety, wore false hair, and always smelt very strongly of lavender.
What this Textopian page supports
Tales: Sentiment is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Dickens, dated 1854 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Dickens
- Date: 1854 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Victorian literature, Social Criticism, Literary Realism
- Length: 4,878 words
- Structure: 1 section, 109 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tales: Sentiment by Charles Dickens
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Tales: Sentiment?
- How does this short story by Charles Dickens fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Master Humphreys Clock by Charles Dickens
- Scenes Omnibuses by Charles Dickens
- Jenny Wren by Charles Dickens
- Mugby Junction by Charles Dickens
- Tales A Passage In The Life Of Mr Watkins Tottle by Charles Dickens
- Little Nell by Charles Dickens
Genres
- Fiction — Charles Dickens primarily wrote novels that are considered fiction.
- Victorian literature — He wrote during the Victorian era and his works often provide insight into the period.
- Social Criticism — Dickens often used his works to critique the society of his time.
- Literary Realism — His works are known for their realistic portrayals of life and characters.
Tags
fiction · literature · short stories · 19th century · social commentary · character study · morality · human emotion · urban life · class struggle · narrative · realism