Treasure House - Charles Kingsley
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What is the historical context and purpose of the Treasure House series?
RTA.ia forward slash drama on one. And now a gem from the archives. Treasure House was a series of dramatized stories on the lives of historical figures including Franz Kafka, Alfred Nobel, Charlotte Grace O'Brien, and George Eliot, to name but a few. Written and recorded in the nineteen seventies, these dramatizations featured the acting talents of the versatile RTE repertory company, and were often researched and scripted by resourceful producers. Tonight's programme features the life and times of English writer and clergyman Charles Kingsley, who died one hundred and fifty years ago this month, the twenty third of January, to be precise. Charles Kingsley was a paradox. On one hand, he held intensely antagonistic views of Irish people, no doubt influenced by the pseudoscientific literature of the time.
On the other hand, Kingsley's strong convictions as a Christian socialist led him to criticize the English social system. He became an outspoken and unpopular critic of bad landlords' poor sanitation and widespread deprivation, characteristics of a social system that kept England's agricultural laborer class in poverty. Featuring the voices of Thomas Studley, Peg Monaghan, Eamon Keane, Lawrence Foster, and Peter Dix, this is Treasure House.
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When all the world is young, lad, and all the trees are green, and every goose a swan, lad, and every lass a queen. Then hay for boat and horse lad, and round the world away. Young blood must have its course, lad, and every dog his day. Once upon a time there was a little chimney sweeper. And his name was Tom.
My dear good friend, I have written a new story, a flimsy, gay and immaculate ditty about chimney sweeps and dark professors. It's called The Water Babies. And I suppose I must adhere to what my critics say and call it a scientific fairy tale. Actually, call it what you will, it's a special book, a very personal thing written as a kind of present for young Grenville. Well I did write the heroes for the other three, and Fanny would take exception if all the children weren't accounted for. A good book? Do I hear you ask if it may be called a good book? My dear friend, could I write? Would I write anything less than exceptional? It will transport me into history.
Indeed, Charles Kingsley was right. The Water Babies was the book that assured him a place in the history of literature. The book that most people remember today, over a hundred years after its first publication. But Kingsley's frivolous attitude about the exceptional qualities of his writings deceived no one. His wife Fanny, the one person he considered his closest friend throughout his life, was was most aware of his real feelings about his writing. Charles frets too much. He is a sensitive man, too sensitive by far. Someone told me once that Mr Dickens is fussy about criticism, that he gets annoyed easily when people talk badly about his books. But Charles gets so upset he subjects himself to misery by reading and rereading these critical essays.
Mr Dickens saves himself by ignoring the remarks made, but Charles Kingsley was too conscientious to disregard other people's feelings, whether on his books or otherwise. In fact it was this extreme sensitivity to the trials and difficulties of life that made him famous during his lifetime. He observed the plight of the poor and the injustices of wealth, and he campaigned against them.
If my life has been anything, then it has been a window, a window where the desolate might see a glimmer of hope.
Kingsley would have most liked to be remembered for his work at social reform. During his whole life, from the time he was a student at Cambridge, to the time he was canon of Westminster and chaplain to Queen Victoria, He worked and lectured and wrote about the steps needed to help and educate the poor. But from time to time When he became depressed by the bad response to his preachings, he
Why is Charles Kingsley described as a paradox with conflicting views on Irish people and social reform?
He turned his mind to the fantasies of novel writing instead. And here he found the most lasting fame. His friend, the Baptist minister Philip Goss, saw the real worth of his books.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the historical context and purpose of the Treasure House series?
0:00–4:41
2
Why is Charles Kingsley described as a paradox with conflicting views on Irish people and social reform?
4:41–6:37
3
How did Kingsley’s Christian socialist convictions shape his criticism of landlords and poor sanitation?
6:37–15:25
4
What impact did *The Water‑Babies* have on Kingsley’s literary reputation and social agenda?
15:25–27:59