Sikes and Nancy

Book excerpt: On November 14, 1868 Charles Dickens organized a special reading to a select audience to get their opinion on whether or not Sikes and Nancy, the telling of the horrific murder of Nancy by Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist, should be added to his repertoire of public readings of his works. William Charles Kent (1823-1902), editor, journalist, and Dickens' friend, was among those chosen to witness this test reading. Here he gives an account of the event. Most in the audience, Kent among them, felt the reading was sensational and should be added. A few worried about possible hysteria in the audience and the reading's effect on Dickens' already frail health. Dickens read the account with such passion that his pulse soared during its performance. Dickens added Sikes and Nancy to his farewell reading tour of Britain.