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Topic: Britannia

cljw
First Class Passenger
Member # 4198

posted 08-05-2005 10:05 PM

We collect a line of Christmas villages called The Dickens Village. The village is manufactured by a company called Department 56. This year they released a piece called Britannia which is based upon the Cunarder of the same name.

I've posted a few pics if anyone is interested. Keep in mind this is a loose rendition, but I still think it's kind of neat that they did it.

Britannia Pics

Posts: 96 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 08-05-2005 10:41 PM

Yes, a loose rendition, but I agree that it's pretty neat that they made such a piece.

I don't believe that Dickens even remotely enjoyed his crossing on Britannia, however. I believe he stood outside as she berthed in Boston, despite the freezing cold, because he was so eager to get back onto land. In those days, not only were there dramatic differences in ship stability, but comfort overall. Cunard was concerned about safe delivery of the Royal mail (and to a slightly lesser extent, his passengers) and little else.

[ 08-05-2005: Message edited by: Commodore ]

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 08-05-2005 11:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Commodore:

I don't believe that Dickens even remotely enjoyed his crossing on Britannia, however.

Dickens referred to his cabin on Britannia as "a preposterous little coffin". Or was that his description of the whole ship?

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 08-05-2005 11:56 PM

Britannia- Cunard's First Ship

One of the many accounts on Dickens' Brittania voyage. This one seems to make good use of Dickens' colorful, vivid descriptions of the less than admirable aspects of the voyage, as well as a brief intoduction and some backround. A nice read, if you have the time for it.

[ 08-06-2005: Message edited by: Commodore ]

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Pascal
First Class Passenger
Member # 5510

posted 08-06-2005 04:36 AM

It seems that Dickens wrote one of the first cruise review...

Posts: 1371 | From: Aix en Provence | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 08-06-2005 05:42 AM

The rumour of the day was that Cunard paid C. Dickens by a free crossing a/b one of there ships. It was a marketing stunt frome Cunard.

But reading Dickens review hé was not purchased to wrotte a possitif over the voyage. I like the man.

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

cljw
First Class Passenger
Member # 4198

posted 08-08-2005 10:33 AM

Yes, as I recall, Dickens really did not enjoy his trip at all. I think it's a bit of trivia that makes this piece even more interesting.

Posts: 96 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 08-08-2005 10:47 AM

It was a different Cunard back then, more concerned in their mail contract then in comfortable passenger service. I wonder how Dickens would have felt crossing the Atlantic on a sailing packet with no wind or with storms. Perhaps he was just too romantic for a crossing on an early Cunarder when getting there was NO fun!

Here is a small (literally) drawing I made of Britannia if you click this link you will see a drawing of her compared to QM2.

http://www.onnoheesbeen.com/QM2BRI.html

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

cljw
First Class Passenger
Member # 4198

posted 08-08-2005 12:29 PM

Onno,

Nice drawing. Really shows just how big QM2 really is!

The company who does the Dickens Village also does one called Christmas in the City. I wonder if they'll do a QM2 to go with it?

Posts: 96 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

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