Dickens World is opening in England near the author’s former home in Chatham, Kent. Visitors will be “immersed in the urban streets, sounds and smells of the 19th century.” Not the smells, I hope.
With a host of captivating attractions, Dickens World features one of Europe’s largest dark boat rides, the Haunted house of Ebenezer Scrooge, a state-of-the art animatronic show, Victorian School Room, 4D high definition show and Fagin’s Den.
Dickens was wildly popular with a mass audience in his day. His books were pop culture, not high literature.
Betsy thinks the idea is great and hopes it spreads.
Homer and Virgil provide thrill rides all by themselves. Ride the Charybdis Tilt-a-whirl! Or you could explore the Underworld roller coaster with Aeneas! Or for American literature, sail down the Mississippi as you encounter the animatronic figures from Huckleberry Finn.
. . . Soon kids will be inspired to read books because they enjoyed the ride and animatronic show.
Or, at least, read the comic book.
About Joanne
Darn, we weren’t allowed to read comic books. There wasn’t a tv and disney land was 3000 miles away. But, there was a library.
Hannibal, Missouri has a number of Mark Twain themed attractions (including at least one place where he actually lived. Best is the tour of the cave that served as a model for the one in Tom Sawyer.
Visitors will be “immersed in the urban streets, sounds and smells of the 19th century.†Not the smells, I hope.
If this is supposed to be an educational experience, why not?
I think a good snoot full of the sort of fragrance a dozen or so horses can generate on a hot, still day would give period movies a much needed shot of reality. It would also help students understand why the much-despised automobile was so highly thought of back when horse were the prime mover.