The Arts-Muse Fair

Great literary icons who dominated the 19th century Charles Dickens and Victor Hugo met in Paris in in 1846. But they said little to each other because of language. Hugo’s second language was Latin, while Dickens can speak only few French words. Therefore, they said little to each other. Many literary scholars continue to imagine what would have been the topic between the two writers whose works defined Britain and France – and indeed the 19th century. Language was an obstruction to what would have turned out to be the subject of many scholarly works. Both writers shared one thing in common: great literary works that painted vivid picture of poverty and injustice. While discussions persist on the barrier erected by language between the two great writers, we can also imagine the magic of translation in opening the door of dialogue and exchange of ideas. If a translator surfaced, there would have been a discussion, or perhaps an exchange of ideas and more between Charles Dicke